Cigarette Smuggler Jailed

A 49 year old lorry driver from Cardiff has been jailed for attempting to smuggle over 8 million cigarettes into the UK through Dover, hidden in a consignment of frozen potato chips, evading almost £1.4 million in duty.

John Reginald Paul from Eleanor Place, Cardiff, was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment at Maidstone Crown Court, following an investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). He was stopped by UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers on 20 April 2010, as he arrived at Dover on a ferry from France. His lorry was searched and the cigarettes were found amongst the pallets of frozen chips. Paul pleaded guilty and was sentenced on 18 March 2011.

Bob Gaiger regional spokesman for HMRC said: "Cigarette smuggling is not a victimless crime and we will not hesitate to pursue those responsible. It costs the UK millions of pounds in lost revenue each year, money that could be used to fund vital public services. Anyone with information about the importation or sale of smuggled tobacco should call the Customs' Hotline on 0800 59 5000 or email customs.hotline@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk".