Northern Ireland

Tobacco and cigarettes worth around £5m to HMRC seized in Newry

Investigations into the suspected fraud are ongoing
Investigations into the suspected fraud are ongoing Investigations into the suspected fraud are ongoing

LOOSE tobacco and cigarettes worth around £5 million in lost duty and taxes have been seized in the Newry area.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers, accompanied by the PSNI, confiscated an estimated ten tonnes of loose tobacco, and 411,000 cigarettes during the search of commercial premises on Thursday.

Steve Tracey, HMRC fraud investigations director, said it was a suspected illicit tobacco factory.

Cigarette processing equipment, filters, and packaging were also found on the premises. Investigations into the suspected fraud are ongoing.

"The trade in illicit tobacco is unregulated and makes cheaper tobacco more readily available to the young and vulnerable," he said.

"The sale of illegal tobacco will not be tolerated by us or our partner agencies.

"Disrupting criminal trade is at the heart of our strategy to clampdown on the illicit tobacco market, which costs the UK around £2.5 billion a year. This is theft from the taxpayer and undermines legitimate traders.

"We encourage anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco to report it online or call the Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887."