Assets of Belfast publican seized in smuggling investigation

The assets of a Belfast publican, his partner and her daughter have been seized by the North's Assets Recovery Agency.

Hugh Ludlow, his partner Susan Anderson and her daughter Shelley are alleged by the agency to be involved in a major international cigarette smuggling operation.

A bar, a newsagent's shop, property, money with a minimum value of €350,000 and a car are now in the hands of an interim receiver.

The sssets recovery agency's deputy director, Alan McQuillan, said it was one of largest cigarette smuggling cases it had undertaken.

The agency said all three earned income from a range of unlawful activities including the smuggling, distribution and sale of tobacco.

Mr Ludlow owns a bar in east Belfast. His partner and her daughter are believed to run news agency businesses, which it is claimed they used to sell smuggled tobacco.