Top Tax Fugitive Nabbed Over £2.8 Million Illegal Cigarette Haul
Svajunas Navagruckas, 51, once one of HMRC’s most wanted tax fugitives, has finally been brought to justice. The head of a ruthless organised crime gang, he masterminded the smuggling of 8.5 million illegal cigarettes worth £2.8 million in evaded duty. The huge haul was seized in June 2017 at a farm in Lincoln.
On the Run, Then Caught Abroad
After the raid, Navagruckas fled the UK while investigations were underway. Charged in March 2019 with conspiracy to evade excise duty, an urgent European Arrest Warrant was issued. Lithuanian authorities arrested him, and he was extradited back to the UK on 10 July 2020.
On 10 August, Navagruckas appeared at Nottingham Crown Court and pleaded guilty. On 5 February, he was sentenced to 28 months behind bars. Confiscation proceedings are now underway to recover the criminal gains.
HMRC Cracks Down on Cigarette Smugglers
“Navagruckas was the head of an organised criminal network intent on flooding our streets with millions of illicit cigarettes,” said Richard Paris, Assistant Director of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service.
“These cigarettes damage legitimate businesses, rob public services of vital revenue, and can end up in the hands of children.”
Paris added: “We are still hunting gang member Robertas Borovskis, 40. If you have info, report it online at GOV.UK or call the Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”
Gang Members Arrested, Jailed, and Extradited
- Three other gang members – Andrej Jerofejev, 38, Vilmantas Simaitis, 48, and Martynas Nazaras, 38 – were previously jailed after being caught and extradited from Lithuania.
- The cigarettes were hidden in window frames and laundry bags on the Lincoln farm. Jerofejev and Nazaras were caught removing the contraband; Simaitis was arrested nearby at a petrol station.
- All fled before their court dates but were tracked down through European Arrest Warrants and brought back to the UK.
- Each pleaded guilty and received nearly five years in prison.
HMRC’s Global Reach Brings Fugitives Home
Since 2016, HMRC has successfully returned 56 fugitives, including some of the UK’s top tax cheats. The agency continues its worldwide efforts to shut down smuggling networks and protect public revenue.
The hunt is still on for Robertas Borovskis, with a European Arrest Warrant issued for his capture in connection to this smuggling ring.
