Two tonnes of tobacco seized at port

An attempt to smuggle more than two tonnes of hand-rolling tobacco into the UK through Dover has been foiled by Border Force officers.

Officers stopped an Italian-registered lorry after it arrived on a ferry from Calais on 19 January. They questioned the Romanian driver and then searched the vehicle, and found the tobacco concealed under its load of cheese.

If the haul had not been intercepted it could have cost the Treasury about £328,000 in unpaid excise duty.

Paul Morgan, Director Border Force South East & Europe, said: "These detections show that our Border Force officers are on constant alert, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to keep illegal goods out of the UK.

"Anyone who smuggles tobacco for commercial gain is effectively stealing from the public purse and from law-abiding taxpayers.

"We will continue to work with HM Revenue & Customs to bring smugglers to justice."

The case was referred to HM Revenue & Customs for further investigation.