Two men have been charged after over 2million fake cigarettes were seized in Glasgow.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers raided a 'business unit' in the South Side on Monday and found eight pallets containing 'illicit cigarettes' thought to be worth £795,000 in lost duty. Two men, aged 57 and 53, were arrested, interviewed by HMRC officers then charged with Excise Duty fraud.
The 57-year-old was also charged with a £408,000 Excise Duty fraud related to a separate incident where 1.1 million suspected fake cigarettes were uncovered in Whitburn, West Lothian on April 27. Both men were released while enquiries continue.
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It comes after an unrelated incident where 1.8 tonnes of compressed raw tobacco leaf was found and seized by HMRC officers from a haulage depot in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire on June 24. When processed, this would produce two tonnes of illicit hand rolling tobacco with an estimated duty loss of £782,000. Enquiries are ongoing.
Joe Hendry, HMRC's assistant director of the Fraud Investigation Service urges anyone with information on fake cigarettes in their area to come forward.
He said: “The trade in illicit cigarettes and tobacco damages funding for essential public services and undermines legitimate traders including small, independent corner shops that serve local communities. HMRC continues to work closely with our partners in Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce to relentlessly pursue the determined minority who refuse to play by the rules.
“Anyone with information about the illegal sale of cigarettes and tobacco should report it to HMRC via the website."
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