Aberdeen man spared jail over illicit cigarette haul
Kevin Paterson's been ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work in the next year
Last updated 14th Feb 2018
An Aberdeen man has been handed community service after 65,000 illicit cigarettes were discovered in the city’s Ashgrove Road.
Following a search of the garage at the premises on 17 May 2016, HMRC officers found 13 cases containing 65,000 Pride cigarettes.
Kevin Paterson, 34, was detained and interviewed under caution that same day. He admitted the cigarettes were his and that excise duty hadn’t been paid on them.
At Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 16 January 2018, Paterson pleaded guilty to the evasion of £19,547.39 excise duty and was sentenced to a Community Payback Order of 240 hours unpaid work to be completed within 12 months earlier.
Cheryl Burr, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said:
“Tobacco fraudsters like Paterson undercut legitimate retailers depriving the UK of money needed to fund our public services.
“HMRC will continue to target the supply of illicit tobacco, which costs the UK around £2.5 billion a year. Anyone with information regarding the smuggling, storage or sale of illegal tobacco can report it to HMRC online or call our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887."