Several men arrested at tobacco factory that produced 35MILLION fake cigarettes
A FACTORY thought to be capable of churning out 35 million dodgy cigarettes a month has been shut down and 10 men arrested.
A factory thought to produce up to 35 million fake cigarettes has been shut down
Customs officials who led the raid on the plant on the outskirts of Birmingham city centre found it kitted out with machinery able to produce and package cigarettes on an industrial scale.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said the operation could have cost the taxpayer £138 million a year in lost duty and taxes.
Four lorry loads of tobacco, cigarettes and packing materials were seized in the raid on Tuesday last week.
The raid on the Birmingham plant has also led to the arrest of 10 men
Tobacco fraud costs the UK £2.4 billion a year in lost tax, money that should be funding vital public services in the UK
A nearby residence was also searched.
Following the multi-agency raid, 10 men aged between 26 and 40 from Brazil and Paraguay were detained by immigration enforcement officers on suspicion of immigration offences, and now face being deported.
Stuart Taylor, HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service assistant director, said: “Tobacco fraud costs the UK £2.4 billion a year in lost tax, money that should be funding vital public services in the UK.
The plant was supplied with machinery able to produce and package cigarettes on an industrial scale
“We continue to work with other enforcement agencies to reduce the availability of illicit tobacco.
“Don't let criminals profit by undermining legitimate retailers.”
Four lorry loads of tobacco, cigarettes and packing materials were seized in the raid
Sajeela Naseer, Birmingham City Council's head of trading standards, said: “Together we've taken action on illicit tobacco fraud and this factory alone had the potential to deprive HM Treasury of millions of pounds.”
She said the investigation into the cigarettes recovered was continuing.
Anyone with information about the smuggling or illegal sale of tobacco is urged to call HMRC's hotline on 0800 59 5000.