Kent men jailed for smuggling six million cigarettes

Two Kent men have been jailed for their role in smuggling almost six million cigarettes into the UK following an investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers.

George Blackburn, 47, was arrested on 8 January 2010 after the lorry he was driving was stopped by UK Border Agency (UKBA) officials as he arrived at Dover on a ferry from Calais. Paperwork provided by Blackburn showed that there were 41 pallets of onions in the trailer of the lorry. Officers carried out a search of the trailer and found almost 6 million CT Gold cigarettes concealed within cardboard boxes. The duty evaded on the cigarettes was in excess of £1 million.

Investigations by HMRC uncovered evidence that linked Naythen Smith, 46, to the smuggling attempt. Officers found that Smith had travelled on the same ferry as Blackburn on 8 January 2010. Phone records proved they were in regular contact throughout the trip to Belgium.

Martin Brown, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation for HMRC said: "The motivation of Blackburn and Smith was pure greed. Had the smuggling attempt been successful it would have deprived the exchequer of over £1 million. This tax is essential to fund public services such as schools and hospitals and any shortfall would have to be made up by honest taxpayers. Today's sentences will send a message to anyone involved in this type of crime, we are determined to find and bring to justice those people who think they can break the law. Tobacco fraud costs honest taxpayers more than £2 billion a year, undercutting honest businesses."

The men were charged with evading duty on tobacco products. Blackburn and Smith pleaded guilty in March and were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday (4 May 2012).