CRIMINALS across the North West have been left licking their wounds after their stash of cigarettes and booze was seized by ‘The Duty Men’.
HM Revenue and Customs, backed up by armed police, mounted an operation yesterday to disrupt the sale and supply of illegal tobacco and alcohol.
During searches officers uncovered around 26,000 illicit cigarettes, 7 kgs of hand rolling tobacco and over 33 litres of alcohol in Co Derry.
HMRC visited a number of commercial premises in Derry and Strabane as part of a crackdown.
A HMRC spokesperson said they seized tobacco, cigarettes and alcohol worth an estimated £10,000 in lost duty.
A car was also seized during the operation under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Mike Parkinson, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said: “Tobacco fraud is organised crime on a global scale, encouraging and supporting criminality within our communities.
“Criminals are not providing a service, they are robbing taxpayers of billions each year in unpaid duty and taxes and undercutting legitimate local businesses who can’t compete with these illegal products.
“We urge anyone with information about the transport, storage or sale of suspected illicit tobacco to contact us on the Customs’ Hotline on 0800 59 5000.”
He added that investigations into the local seizures are continuing.
No arrests were made but customs are hopeful of tracing those involved in the illict trade in counterfeit cigarettes and booze.
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