£300,000 worth of tobacco and cigarettes seized in Glasgow
Last updated 17th Jan 2018
Two people have been charged after an investigation into a suspected £300,000 illicit tobacco and cigarette fraud.
The investigation was launched after a number of HMRC officers searched a residential address in Glasgow on Wednesday 10 January 2018.
About 90,000 cigarettes and one tonne of loose tobacco were seized at the address.
Investigators are looking at whether the tobacco products are fake or the whether they duty hasn't been paid on them.
A 47-year-old man and 43-year-old woman have been charged and remanded in custody.
Cheryl Burr, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: 'Tobacco fraudsters are costing the UK around £2.5 billion a year in lost taxes. This is theft of money which should be going to fund public services and is ending up in the pockets of criminals.
'We are disrupting the distribution of illicit tobacco across the UK and levelling the playing field for local businesses who cannot compete with their criminal competitors.
'We encourage anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco to contact our fraud hotline on 0800 788 887.'