The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Illicit cigarettes were found stashed in secret hiding places during multi-agency raids on Spalding shops last week.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have released details of what was discovered during the swoops reported in The Voice (Sep 30).
Officers from HMRC, with support from Lincolnshire Trading Standards and Lincolnshire Police, visited 36 retail premises across the county.
The operation to disrupt the sale and supply of illegal tobacco and alcohol uncovered more than 130,000 cigarettes, 42kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 3,570 litres of beer, wine and spirits, all believed to be illicit.
Illicit cigarettes were found in the Spalding area stashed in a cavity above a door and behind a light fitting.
In Spalding, the seizures were:
- 36,260 cigarettes, with an estimated £11,639 duty and VAT evaded
- 1.4kg kilos of hand-rolling tobacco, with an estimated £342 duty and VAT evaded
- 12.6 litres of spirits, with an estimated £162 duty and VAT evaded
- two vehicles
Stuart Taylor, assistant director of the fraud investigation service, said: “The sale of illegal tobacco and alcohol will not be tolerated by us or our partner agencies.
“Disrupting criminal trade is at the heart of our strategy to clamp down on the illicit tobacco market, which costs the UK around £2billion a year, and the sale of illicit alcohol which costs the UK around £1billion per year. This is theft from the taxpayer and undermines legitimate traders.
“Tax fraud is not acceptable and we will tackle it head on. We are levelling the playing field for legitimate local businesses who cannot compete with their criminal competitors.
“We encourage anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco to contact the Customs hotline on 0800 59 5000.”
Andy Wright, principal Trading Standards officer at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “This is a clear example of partnership work at its very best. The result is a credit to the combined efforts of all the agencies involved who understand the impact that such illegal activity can have on the local community.
“This seizure sends a clear message that we will not tolerate the import or sale of counterfeit and illicit products in our county.”
HMRC declined to disclose from which premises the goods were seized.
