Record haul of 99 million illegal cigarettes seized at Hull Port
Border Force officers made the UK’s biggest ever cigarette bust at the Port of Hull on 1 June 2022. More than 99 million smuggled cigarettes worth an eye-watering £44 million in unpaid taxes were uncovered.
Dog sniffs out cigarettes hidden as birchwood logs
A tobacco detection dog played a crucial role in the massive seizure. The illegal cigs were packed tight inside eight shipping containers and disguised as birchwood logs, with import papers falsely claiming they came through the United Arab Emirates.
Suspects arrested as HMRC launches probe
The haul prompted swift action from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). A 57-year-old man from South Wales was arrested in July in connection with the smuggling but was later released on bail. Another man from Birmingham has also been questioned under caution. The investigation is ongoing.
Anthony Usher, Deputy Director of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, said: “This is the single largest seizure of cigarettes ever made at a UK port – and our streets would have been flooded with them had they not been discovered.We are determined to stamp out tobacco fraud by working closely with partners at home and abroad to bring those responsible to justice.Cheap cigarettes come at a cost as they often fund organised crime and other illegal activity that harms our communities, including drugs, guns, and human trafficking.We urge anyone with information about cigarette fraud to contact HMRC online by searching ‘Report Fraud HMRC’ on GOV.UK.”
Irene Hall, Deputy Director of Border Force North Region, added: “Illicit cigarettes are dangerous, harmful and fund organised criminal gangs.The officers involved can be proud this huge interception has stopped illicit cigarettes from flooding our communities.”
Why cracking down on illicit tobacco matters
- The illegal tobacco trade costs the UK an estimated £2.5 billion a year – robbing taxpayers and undercutting honest businesses.
- Earlier this year, HMRC teamed up with the UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, pledging long-term cooperation to fight large-scale tobacco fraud impacting both countries.
- For more updates, follow HMRC’s Press Office on Twitter: HMRCpressoffice.
