Over 11 tonnes of tobacco and more than 1m cigarettes seized in Co Armagh

By Q Radio News

Around 11 tonnes of loose tobacco and over 1.5 million suspected counterfeit cigarettes have been seized by HMRC in Co Armagh. 

The PSNI also took part in the raid of premises in Camlough and Silverbridge yesterday where materials and equipment was also recovered. 

Investigators, including Mobile Enforcement Teams and specialists in seizing criminal assets, say it could could have been used to produce millions more cigarettes. 

Undetected, the machinery is capable of producing more than 390 million cigarettes a year, evading in excess of £160 million in lost duty and taxes.

The estimated lost duty and taxes of what was recovered is  £8.3 million.

Steve Tracey, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “Cheap cigarettes come at a cost as they often fund organised crime and other illegal activity that causes real harm to our communities. 

Around 11 tonnes of loose tobacco and over 1.5 million suspected counterfeit cigarettes have been seized by HMRC in Co Armagh.

The PSNI also took part in the raid of premises in Camlough and Silverbridge yesterday where materials and equipment was also recovered. pic.twitter.com/t9t1r4pZl7

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) July 2, 2021

“The sale of illegal tobacco will not be tolerated by us or our Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) partner agencies and disrupting criminal trade is at the heart of our strategy to clampdown on the illicit tobacco market, which costs the UK around £1.9 billion a year. 

“This is theft from the taxpayer and undermines legitimate traders.

“Since 2000, we have reduced the illicit market in cigarettes by more than half. 

“Between April 2018 and March 2019, more than 1.3 billion illicit cigarettes and more than 146 tonnes of hand-rolling tobacco were seized, resulting in 278 successful prosecutions

“We encourage anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco to report it online or call the Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”