1.7 million suspected illicit cigarettes seized in Bradford

Tuesday, 22 January 2019 07:00

More than 1.7 million cigarettes have been seized from storage units in Bradford.

It has been revealed that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers discovered 1,743,000 cigarettes and 86.45 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco at a self-storage site near the city centre on Wednesday 18 January.

The goods, which are believed to be illicit and worth an estimated £534,592 in unpaid duty, were found in three storage containers. One of the units contained more than 1.2 million cigarettes packed in cardboard boxes.

Eden Noblett, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said:

“Trade in illicit tobacco costs the UK around £2.5 billion a year, money which should be used to fund our vital public services. This is theft from the taxpayer and undermines legitimate traders.”

No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.

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