Customs £10k cigs haul
CUSTOMS officers have seized cigarettes and tobacco with a street value of £10,000 following a raid in Ipswich.A 37-year-old man from Ipswich was arrested in the town yesterday afternoon after he was found to be in possession of a quantity of contraband cigarettes and tobacco.
CUSTOMS officers have seized cigarettes and tobacco with a street value of £10,000 following a raid in Ipswich.
A 37-year-old man from Ipswich was arrested in the town yesterday afternoon after he was found to be in possession of a quantity of contraband cigarettes and tobacco.
The illicit stash was found in a car and during a house search in the Nacton Road area of Ipswich and in total approximately 20,000 cigarettes and more than 72 kilos of tobacco was recovered.
The raid was carried out by officers of the local customs Inland Detection Team and the man was arrested for being in possession of a large quantity of contraband which is thought may have been for illegal sale.
The brands seized included Old Holborn, Golden Virginia and Drum tobacco and Benson and Hedges and L&M cigarettes.
The man was interviewed by officers of customs & excise at Ipswich police station and has since been released on bail pending further enquiries.
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The goods and car, which contained some of the hoard, was all also seized in the operation.
John Barber a spokesman for Customs said: "The amount of tobacco seized is equivalent to about 14 years supply for the average smoker.
"There are still large numbers of criminals in this country who are out to make a quick profit for themselves at the expense of the honest taxpayer and legitimate business.
"The amount of revenue currently lost annually to the government on tobacco and cigarette smuggling is the equivalent of building 27 hospitals."
