Coventry Man Runs Multi-Million Illegal Cigarette Empire
Unemployed Ary Majeed, 36, from Tennyson Road, Coventry, led a massive illegal cigarette and money laundering ring. Using a fleet of vehicles and a network of couriers, he smuggled millions of cigarettes across the UK.
Millions of Illegal Cigarettes Seized Across the UK
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) uncovered huge hauls of cigarettes linked to Majeed’s operation. Cigarettes worth over £22 million in unpaid duty were found hidden inside lorries, shipping containers, and storage units—some concealed among medical supplies.
- 11 million cigarettes seized at a storage unit in Braintree, Essex, June 2018.
- 10.5 million confiscated in Huggate, East Riding of Yorkshire, September 2018, some hidden inside metal casings.
- 13.5 million found in shipping containers at Tilbury Port, December 2018, cleverly concealed behind medical cups.
In total, investigations revealed 79 million smuggled cigarettes circulated through Majeed’s network.
Money Laundering and Criminal Partners Revealed
Majeed didn’t act alone. He laundered criminal proceeds alongside Damian Lukaszuk, 35, from Warfield, Bracknell, and Miroslaw Koksanowicz, 55, of Stevenage.
Carmine Di Franco, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said:
“Majeed played a significant role in distributing vast quantities of illegal cigarettes across the UK. He deprived our public services of millions and undermined legitimate traders.
“Cheap cigarettes fund serious organised crime—including drugs, guns, and human trafficking—that harms communities. These criminals don’t care who their customers are, including children.”
“If you have info about illegal tobacco or alcohol sales, report it online or call 0800 788 887.”
Crackdown and Sentences
Majeed was arrested at his home in April 2019 after HMRC caught him red-handed. Mobile phone evidence sealed his fate.
Damian Lukaszuk was caught moving £1.2 million in cash at Dover docks and later carrying £80,000 in Coventry. Both he and Miroslaw Koksanowicz were arrested on the spot. Lukaszuk also tried smuggling cigarettes through the Channel Tunnel in 2015.
On 15 July 2021, Majeed was found guilty of cheating the public revenue and money laundering. Lukaszuk admitted money laundering offences in April 2021. Koksanowicz pleaded guilty to organised crime involvement in June 2021.
- Majeed was sentenced to 8 years and 3 months behind bars.
- Lukaszuk got 3 years in prison.
Koksanowicz is set for sentencing in September 2021.
Another player, Radoslav Vavlic from Slovakia, was jailed for 27 months in 2019 for transporting £125,000 cash given by Majeed.
