Illicit cigarettes and beer seized
Almost 1.9 million cigarettes and 15,000 litres of beer were seized in a revenue and customs raid on a Leicestershire industrial premises.
The haul of illicit goods - 30 pallets of Polish beer with the cigarettes stuffed between the cases of the drink - was found when HM Revenue and Customs officers swooped on a building at Lakeside Business Park, in Thurmaston.
Keith Morgan, detection manager for HM Revenue and Customs, said: "We are determined to eradicate this form of criminality and raise awareness of the dangers of this illicit trade. It has a devastating effect on all communities.
"It is not an innocent or victimless form of crime but one that encourages otherwise honest people to trade with criminals."
The revenue loss on the cigarettes to the public purse is estimated at around £300,000 and on the beer around £12,500.
Investigations are ongoing.
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2008, All Rights Reserved.
The full article contains 166 words and appears in Press Association newspaper.
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Last Updated:
07 August 2008 9:34 AM
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Source:
Press Association
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Location:
The Press Association Newsdesk
