Coventry Criminal Mastermind Busted Over £22 Million Cigarette Smuggling Scam
Massive Illegal Cigarette Operation Uncovered
Unemployed Ary Majeed, 36, from Tennyson Road, Coventry, led a huge illegal cigarette and money laundering ring. Using a fleet of vehicles and a network of couriers, Majeed smuggled millions of cigarettes across the UK.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) swooped on the gang, seizing millions of cigarettes hidden in lorries, shipping containers, and storage units—some cleverly concealed amongst medical supplies. The haul was worth over £22 million in unpaid duty.
Partners in Crime and Lavish Laundering Scheme
Majeed wasn’t acting alone. He worked with Damian Lukaszuk, 35, from Warfield, Bracknell, and 55-year-old Miroslaw Koksanowicz of Stevenage to launder the illegal profits from the cigarette empire.
Carmine Di Franco, Assistant Director at HMRC Fraud Investigation Service, warned:
“Majeed played a significant role in distributing vast quantities of illegal cigarettes across the UK. He deprived our public services of millions in vital funding and undermined legitimate traders.”
“Cheap cigarettes come at a cost, often funding organised crime such as drugs, guns, and human trafficking. These criminals don’t care who buys their products—even children.”
“Anyone with information on illegal tobacco or alcohol sales should report it online or call the Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”
Record-Breaking Seizures from Across the UK
Between May 2018 and April 2019, HMRC landed hit after hit on Majeed’s supply chain, including:
- 11 million cigarettes seized from a storage unit in Braintree, Essex, on 15 June 2018.
- 10.5 million hidden inside metal casings at a storage unit in Huggate, East Riding of Yorkshire, on 15 September 2018.
- 13.5 million stashed in shipping containers behind medical cups at the Port of Tilbury in December 2018.
Overall, 79 million smuggled cigarettes were traced back to Majeed’s network—total evaded duty exceeding £22 million.
Criminals Brought to Justice
Majeed was arrested at his home on 25 April 2019. Mobile phone evidence sealed his fate. Damian Lukaszuk was caught moving £1.2 million in cash hidden in a lorry at Dover docks in March 2018. He was also arrested carrying £80,000 in Coventry in November 2018, with Koksanowicz as his passenger. Another £6,000 was found at Lukaszuk’s home.
Lukaszuk had a shady past, previously trying to smuggle 37,000 cigarettes via the Channel Tunnel in 2015.
Following trials at Warwick Crown Court:
- Ary Majeed was found guilty of two counts of cheating the public revenue and two counts of money laundering. He was jailed for eight years and three months on 20 August 2021.
- Damian Lukaszuk pleaded guilty to money laundering and received a three-year prison sentence.
- Miroslaw Koksanowicz admitted playing a role in the organised crime group and is set for sentencing on 20 September 2021.
Slovakian associate Radoslav Vavlic, caught transporting £125,000 cash from Majeed, was jailed for 27 months back in September 2019.
This crackdown sends a clear message: smugglers and money launderers beware—HMRC is on your tail.
