Lorry driver jailed for smuggling 6.3 million cigarettes through Dover

A British lorry driver who smuggled 6.3 million cigarettes through Dover has been jailed for four and a half years, following an investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Colin Beattie (45) was found guilty of evading £1,046,000 in excise duty. He smuggled the cigarettes through Dover's Eastern Docks on 14 July 2009, having travelled by ferry from Calais. The cigarettes, in black shrink-wrapped boxes, had been hidden behind pallets of tomatoes in a lorry's refrigerated trailer unit.

Upon sentencing His Honour Judge Gold said that Beattie "had lied in the face of overwhelming evidence", adding he "did not believe that Beattie was only a courier."

Martin Brown, HMRC Assistant Director Criminal Investigation, said: "Beattie's ploy to deprive the UK economy of over one million pounds in duty failed and he is now paying the price. The cigarettes were counterfeit, meaning they were unlicensed and unregulated for the UK market. HMRC will continue to work closely with the UK Border Agency to disrupt this type of criminal operation that undermines legitimate UK trade. Anyone with information about cigarette smuggling should contact the Customs' Hotline on 0800 59 5000".

Beattie was found guilty, by unanimous jury decision at Maidstone Crown Court on 22 August 2011, of being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of duty chargeable on the cigarettes, contrary to Section 170 (2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

Confiscations proceedings are ongoing.