Customs find 500,000 cigs in ferry lorry
A MAN has appeared in court after half-a-million cigarettes worth nearly £100,000 were found in the back of a lorry at Newhaven Port.
Customs officers stopped and searched a furniture lorry as it came off the ferry from Dieppe on Tuesday last week.
Inside, they found 500,000 cigarettes worth 95,000 hidden among furniture boxes.
The driver of the lorry from Lithuania, was arrested and interviewed, and subsequently charged with duty evasion.
Bob Gaiger, HM Revenue and Customs regional spokesman in the South East, said: 'HMRC will not hesitate to take action against those involved in cigarette and tobacco smuggling.
'Regional ports such as Newhaven should not be seen as a soft touch by smugglers.
'Smuggling and selling cigarettes and other excise goods is not a harmless tax fiddle.
'It cheats the government of revenue which can be used to fund public services such as schools and hospitals.
'Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to cigarette and tobacco smuggling should call the HMRC 24-hour hotline on 0800 59 5000.'
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Weather for Hastings
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: 0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
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Light sleet showers
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