A van stuffed with more than 360,000 illegal cigarettes has been discovered by police after being stopped on the busy M74 in Lanarkshire.
Officers pulled the vehicle over near junction 8 at Canderside Toll on Thursday, October 13, after receiving intelligence about alleged counterfeit goods.
A picture released by Police Scotland shows the back of the white motor filled to the brim with large cardboard boxes containing the ‘Platinum’ cigarettes. The illicit goods have a tobacco tax duty worth an estimated £160,106 and have since been seized.
The male driver, 42, has since been arrested and charged in connection with offences under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.
A Police Scotland source told Lanarkshire Live : “Around 1.55pm on Thursday, October 13, officers carried out an intelligence-led stop of a white Vauxhall Vivaro van on the M74, near Jct 8 at Canderside Toll.
“A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of approximately 360,000 counterfeit cigarettes.
“The driver – a 42-year-old man – was arrested and charged in connection with the recovery.
"The matter has been passed to HM Revenue and Customs.”
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