A gang member, who rented properties to use as delivery addresses for more than 14 tonnes of smuggled tobacco worth £3.1m in evaded VAT and duty, has been jailed.
Emmanuel Cieply, 57, of no fixed abode, rented three properties in Bradford, Leeds and Liverpool where 1,041 packages containing illegal tobacco products were delivered between October 2014 and February 2016.
Cieply was arrested at a property on Longroyd Avenue, Leeds, after a damaged parcel was found to contain 76kG of hand-rolling tobacco in December 2015. Duty had not been paid on the Amber Leaf branded products, which were seized by UK Border Force.
HMRC officers searched the property and found £70,810 cash in a duvet cover and packaging identical to that seized by UK Border Force.
Cieply admitted excise fraud at Leeds Crown Court and was sentenced to 38 months in prison.
Tribute paid to hospital radio legend Patrick Murphy
Bradford Council reports strong progress on financial recovery
Bradford nurseries recognised with elite ‘900 Club’ award
Teenager injured in Dewsbury bus station stabbing as three arrested
Seven Jailed for Over 40 Years in Halifax Drugs Crackdown
Twelve Charged Over Non-Recent Child Sexual Offences in Calderdale
Bradford Cathedral Hosts ‘Triangle of Unity’ Exhibition
Muslim Aid Launches Winter Support for Vulnerable Communities
30 Years of Clean-Ups: Britain’s Largest Muslim Youth Group Takes to the Streets on New Year’s Day
Legal Show
Alim OnAir
Bhangra Nights
Remix Saturdays