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£2.2m haul of tobacco seized from container
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| Just some of the 26 crates of tobacco discoverd in a container at Southampton docks. |
THIS is the haul of tobacco that was seized at Southampton docks that could have been used to make nearly 19 million cigarettes.
Border Agency officers discovered nine tonnes of hand-rolled tobacco in a container unloaded from a vessel from Indonesia.
Officers spent hours unloading the 1,557 boxes, which if sold in the UK would have cost the taxpayer more than a £1m in excise duty and £350,000 in VAT.
It is estimated that each 500g packet - that contained ten 50g pouches sold in shops - could be sold for around £60 each.
With each pouch then being sold at retail prices of up to £12 each, the total street value of the haul is thought to be worth around £2.2m.
The seized tobacco is now due to be shredded before being taken to a power station where it will be burnt to fuel the national grid.
Lisa Billard, HM Revenue & Customs spokeswoman in the south said: "This huge tobacco haul is a tremendous success for HMRC and UKBA officers who work tirelessly at our south coast ports and airports.
"Smuggling tobacco and other excise goods is not a victimless tax fiddle. It not only cheats the Government of revenue used to fund public services, but also undercuts honest traders.
"UKBA and HMRC will not hesitate to take action against those involved in tobacco smuggling," she added.
UKBA officers finished unloading and counting the haul yesterday after it was discovered on July 17. Investigations are still ongoing into who tried to smuggle the huge quantity into the UK and officers have yet to arrest or charge anyone.
Carole Upshall, Regional Director South of UKBA said: "This is an excellent result and highlights our officers' expertise and dedication to tackle smuggling. Smugglers should not see regional ports like Southampton as a soft touch. We will continue to work with HMRC to root out those smugglers who attempt to bring goods illegally into the UK.
"Smugglers are criminals who are only out to make a profit; they do not care about the harm they cause by smuggling, whether it's drugs, tobacco goods or illegal immigrants."
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
7:52am Friday 25th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: Scrubbers on 9:58am Fri 25 Jul 08
Hope they are going to scrub the flue gases from the power station properly to remove the nasty stuff in tobacco smoke.
Any way, isn't this literally yesterday's news ?
Hope they are going to scrub the flue gases from the power station properly to remove the nasty stuff in tobacco smoke.
Any way, isn't this literally yesterday's news ?
Posted by: Osama Bin Laden, A Cave far far away on 11:26am Fri 25 Jul 08
Never knew there was so much cash in tobacco. Im here selling this opium cack to bomb you lot but the real gold is in fags.
Never knew there was so much cash in tobacco. Im here selling this opium cack to bomb you lot but the real gold is in fags.
Posted by: LOWE OUT, LOWE OUT on 12:09pm Fri 25 Jul 08
LOWE OUT
LOWE OUT
LOWE OUT
LOWE OUT
LOWE OUT
LOWE OUT
LOWE OUT
LOWE OUT
LOWE OUT
LOWE OUT
Posted by: Mike, Soton on 12:19pm Fri 25 Jul 08
[quote][bold]LOWE OUT[/bold] wrote:
LOWE OUT LOWE OUT LOWE OUT LOWE OUT LOWE OUT[/quote] What a sad little prat you are! Echo, can't you block this ip address
LOWE OUT wrote:
LOWE OUT LOWE OUT LOWE OUT LOWE OUT LOWE OUT
What a sad little prat you are! Echo, can't you block this ip address
Posted by: Miles Sway, Scotland on 12:51pm Fri 25 Jul 08
It's going to be shredded and burned - so why not sell it to smnokers and re-coup some cash? Could be done like the sales of bankrupt stock etc and at least get some money back to pay for customs etc, the smugglers still wouldn't be profiting
It's going to be shredded and burned - so why not sell it to smnokers and re-coup some cash? Could be done like the sales of bankrupt stock etc and at least get some money back to pay for customs etc, the smugglers still wouldn't be profiting
Posted by: Osama Bin Laden, A Cave far far away on 1:01pm Fri 25 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Miles Sway[/bold] wrote:
It's going to be shredded and burned - so why not sell it to smnokers and re-coup some cash? Could be done like the sales of bankrupt stock etc and at least get some money back to pay for customs etc, the smugglers still wouldn't be profiting[/quote] Nah thats common sense
Miles Sway wrote:
It's going to be shredded and burned - so why not sell it to smnokers and re-coup some cash? Could be done like the sales of bankrupt stock etc and at least get some money back to pay for customs etc, the smugglers still wouldn't be profiting
Nah thats common sense
Posted by: Benson, Hedge End on 2:30pm Fri 25 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Osama Bin Laden[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Miles Sway[/bold] wrote:
It's going to be shredded and burned - so why not sell it to smnokers and re-coup some cash? Could be done like the sales of bankrupt stock etc and at least get some money back to pay for customs etc, the smugglers still wouldn't be profiting[/quote] Nah thats common sense[/quote] Yes lets flog off a load of tobacco which has come from who-knows-where, produced under random conditions and imported by a bunch of dodgy criminals. That will just about complete our duty of care to the taxpayer.
Osama Bin Laden wrote:
Miles Sway wrote:
It's going to be shredded and burned - so why not sell it to smnokers and re-coup some cash? Could be done like the sales of bankrupt stock etc and at least get some money back to pay for customs etc, the smugglers still wouldn't be profiting
Nah thats common sense
Yes lets flog off a load of tobacco which has come from who-knows-where, produced under random conditions and imported by a bunch of dodgy criminals. That will just about complete our duty of care to the taxpayer.
Posted by: Hedges on 3:39pm Fri 25 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Benson[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Osama Bin Laden[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]Miles Sway[/bold] wrote: It's going to be shredded and burned - so why not sell it to smnokers and re-coup some cash? Could be done like the sales of bankrupt stock etc and at least get some money back to pay for customs etc, the smugglers still wouldn't be profiting[/quote] Nah thats common sense[/quote] Yes lets flog off a load of tobacco which has come from who-knows-where, produced under random conditions and imported by a bunch of dodgy criminals. That will just about complete our duty of care to the taxpayer.[/quote] Considering its Old Holburn/Golden Virginia i would imangine its high quality. Donut.
Benson wrote:
Osama Bin Laden wrote: Miles Sway wrote: It's going to be shredded and burned - so why not sell it to smnokers and re-coup some cash? Could be done like the sales of bankrupt stock etc and at least get some money back to pay for customs etc, the smugglers still wouldn't be profiting
Nah thats common sense
Yes lets flog off a load of tobacco which has come from who-knows-where, produced under random conditions and imported by a bunch of dodgy criminals. That will just about complete our duty of care to the taxpayer.
Considering its Old Holburn/Golden Virginia i would imangine its high quality. Donut.
Posted by: Wewullywinky on 4:06pm Fri 25 Jul 08
I bought that back for personal usage.
I bought that back for personal usage.
Posted by: Benson, Hedge End on 8:13pm Fri 25 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Hedges[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Benson[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Osama Bin Laden[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]Miles Sway[/bold] wrote: It's going to be shredded and burned - so why not sell it to smnokers and re-coup some cash? Could be done like the sales of bankrupt stock etc and at least get some money back to pay for customs etc, the smugglers still wouldn't be profiting[/quote] Nah thats common sense[/quote] Yes lets flog off a load of tobacco which has come from who-knows-where, produced under random conditions and imported by a bunch of dodgy criminals. That will just about complete our duty of care to the taxpayer.[/quote] Considering its Old Holburn/Golden Virginia i would imangine its high quality. Donut.[/quote] Ever heard of counterfeit goods? Danish Pastry.
Hedges wrote:
Benson wrote:
Osama Bin Laden wrote: Miles Sway wrote: It's going to be shredded and burned - so why not sell it to smnokers and re-coup some cash? Could be done like the sales of bankrupt stock etc and at least get some money back to pay for customs etc, the smugglers still wouldn't be profiting
Nah thats common sense
Yes lets flog off a load of tobacco which has come from who-knows-where, produced under random conditions and imported by a bunch of dodgy criminals. That will just about complete our duty of care to the taxpayer.
Considering its Old Holburn/Golden Virginia i would imangine its high quality. Donut.
Ever heard of counterfeit goods? Danish Pastry.
Posted by: Hedges on 8:49pm Fri 25 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Benson[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Hedges[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Benson[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Osama Bin Laden[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]Miles Sway[/bold] wrote: It's going to be shredded and burned - so why not sell it to smnokers and re-coup some cash? Could be done like the sales of bankrupt stock etc and at least get some money back to pay for customs etc, the smugglers still wouldn't be profiting[/quote] Nah thats common sense[/quote] Yes lets flog off a load of tobacco which has come from who-knows-where, produced under random conditions and imported by a bunch of dodgy criminals. That will just about complete our duty of care to the taxpayer.[/quote] Considering its Old Holburn/Golden Virginia i would imangine its high quality. Donut.[/quote] Ever heard of counterfeit goods? Danish Pastry.[/quote] Didn't think of that. What a brioche! Feel free to smash my face in
Benson wrote:
Hedges wrote:
Benson wrote:
Osama Bin Laden wrote: Miles Sway wrote: It's going to be shredded and burned - so why not sell it to smnokers and re-coup some cash? Could be done like the sales of bankrupt stock etc and at least get some money back to pay for customs etc, the smugglers still wouldn't be profiting
Nah thats common sense
Yes lets flog off a load of tobacco which has come from who-knows-where, produced under random conditions and imported by a bunch of dodgy criminals. That will just about complete our duty of care to the taxpayer.
Considering its Old Holburn/Golden Virginia i would imangine its high quality. Donut.
Ever heard of counterfeit goods? Danish Pastry.
Didn't think of that. What a brioche! Feel free to smash my face in
Posted by: Duh, Southampton on 9:42pm Fri 25 Jul 08
Reduce the tax on tobacco and then no-one will try and sneak it in! Afterall we smokers can't pollute the non-smokers as we're banned in public.
Most of this stuff will be stolen again anyway before its burnt!
Reduce the tax on tobacco and then no-one will try and sneak it in! Afterall we smokers can't pollute the non-smokers as we're banned in public.
Most of this stuff will be stolen again anyway before its burnt!
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