Truck driver jailed for tobacco smuggling through Dover

A lorry driver who smuggled 645 kilos of tobacco into Dover's Eastern Docks has been jailed.

Romanian national Constantin Macarie, 50, was arrested by Border Force officers in January 2015 who discovered 645 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco in the trailer unit of his lorry. The tobacco was hidden amongst a legitimate cargo of metal building materials concealed within four shrink-wrapped packages.

Following his arrest, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) carried out an investigation and discovered that around £116,000 of duty was evaded.

Alan Tully, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, HMRC said: "Working closely with our Border Force partners, we will prevent smuggled tobacco from reaching the UK's streets. Disrupting criminal trade is at the heart of our strategy to clampdown on the illicit tobacco market, which costs the UK around £2.1 billion a year in lost revenue. This is theft from the taxpayer and undermines legitimate traders.

"Anyone with information about the illegal importation or sale of tobacco should contact the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000."

Macarie pleaded guilty to evading excise duty on smuggled tobacco. He was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday (2 March 2015) and is to serve half in jail.