Encrypted messages helped snare cigarette smugglers
A smuggling gang caught complaining about the seizure of millions of cigarettes on an encrypted phone network have been jailed.
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More than 11 million cigarettes seized
Four men have been arrested after the seizure of more than 11 million cigarettes in South Armagh.
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Cigarette tax gap halved
A new report published today shows HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has slashed the tax gap on illicit cigarettes and tobacco by more than half since 2005. Between April 2023 and March 2024 HMRC also secured prison sentences totalling 148 years against 107 cigarette and tobacco fraudsters.
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Tobacco smuggling kingpin jailed
The head of an international tobacco smuggling operation has been jailed for six years.
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Stronger powers to combat illicit tobacco come into force
More than 27 million illicit cigarettes and 7,500kg of hand-rolling tobacco were seized under Operation CeCe in its first two years, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and National Trading Standards have revealed.
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10.8 million cigarettes seized at Belfast port
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is investigating after 10.8 million illegal cigarettes were seized at Belfast Port. The cigarettes, worth around £5.3million in unpaid taxes, were seized by HMRC working alongside Border Force, on 20 June, 2023. The cigarettes were found packed in cardboard boxes inside a container that had been scanned by Border Force. No arrests have been made.
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Cigarette smuggling gang jailed for 26 years
A gang caught red-handed with millions of counterfeit cigarettes at a Lincolnshire farm has been handed prison sentences totalling 26 years.
The small village of Midville, in East Lindsey, was the unlikely base for the gang who were caught with more than 6.5millon cigarettes, worth more than £1.8m in evaded duty.
Officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) arrested Marcin Kopec, 44, and Woj -
Illegal tobacco factory smashed
One of Scotland’s biggest ever illegal tobacco factories has been dismantled after a raid in West Lothian
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Tougher penalties as taxman steps up the fight against tobacco smuggling
Hard-core tobacco smugglers and people who repeatedly smuggle, distribute and sell illicit tobacco could be hit by a fourfold increase in fines together with tough new civil penalties, as part of plans to crackdown on the smuggling of illicit tobacco.
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HMRC publishes 2012-13 tax gap
The tax gap, which is the difference between the amount of tax due and the amount collected, was 6.8% of tax liabilities, or £34 billion, in 2012-13.
