TWO men have been charged in connection with a stash of 2.2million illegal cigarettes in Glasgow.
Officers raided a business unit in the city‘s Southside on Monday where they found eight pallets of cigarettes.
Over 2.2million cigarettes worth just under £800,000 was found
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) arrived at the business address and seized the items.
It is believed to be worth around £795,000 in lost duty and taxes.
Two men, aged 57 and 53 were charged with fraud after being arrested and interviewed by HMRC officers.
The 57-year-old was also charged with a £408,000 Excise Duty fraud.
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This was related to another seizure of 1.1million suspected illicit cigarettes in Whitburn, West Lothian, on April 27 April earlier this year.
The pair have been released while enquiries continue.
An investigation is ongoing.
It comes as 1.8 tonnes of compressed raw tobacco leaf was discovered in Wishaw in an unrelated incident.
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HMRC officers seized the stash from a haulage depot on Friday.
When processed, this would produce two tonnes of illicit hand rolling tobacco.
It is estimated to be worth around £782,000 in lost duty and taxes.
Enquires on this incident are also ongoing.
Joe Hendry, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “The trade in illicit cigarettes and tobacco damages funding for essential public services and undermines legitimate traders including small, independent corner shops that serve local communities.
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“HMRC continues to work closely with our partners in Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce to relentlessly pursue the determined minority who refuse to play by the rules.
“Anyone with information about the illegal sale of cigarettes and tobacco should report it to HMRC online at gov.uk.”
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