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24/09/2003
Customs swoop nets smuggled tobacco and counterfeit goods
Customs officers have seized cigarettes, tobacco and counterfeit DVDs and videos during operations at commercial premises in Portadown and Belfast.
During searches of 17 business premises in east Belfast yesterday, Customs seized 8,360 smuggled cigarettes, 11.5 kilos of hand rolling tobacco and 78 counterfeit DVDs and videos. These follow the seizure of over 10,000 smuggled cigarettes and 1.1 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco during searches in Portadown carried out on Friday 19th September.
Customs anti-smuggling manager Angela Fulton said: "The illegal trade in tobacco products means less money for hospitals and schools - it takes revenue away from local communities and into the hands of a few criminals.
"The sale of illegal tobacco is not about providing a service; it's about profits for a few individuals, who create an unfair market where legitimate businesses find it increasingly difficult to compete."
Penalties for tobacco smuggling include: seizure of all goods and vehicles used, heavy fines, loss of lottery terminal and/or liquor licence and up to seven years in jail.
Each packet of cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco for sale in the UK must carry the words "UK DUTY PAID" in a rectangular box printed indelibly on the packet. It is an offence to possess, sell, deal, transport or store cigarettes or hand-rolling tobacco without the pack mark or for premises to be used for the sale of unmarked products.
(gmcg)
During searches of 17 business premises in east Belfast yesterday, Customs seized 8,360 smuggled cigarettes, 11.5 kilos of hand rolling tobacco and 78 counterfeit DVDs and videos. These follow the seizure of over 10,000 smuggled cigarettes and 1.1 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco during searches in Portadown carried out on Friday 19th September.
Customs anti-smuggling manager Angela Fulton said: "The illegal trade in tobacco products means less money for hospitals and schools - it takes revenue away from local communities and into the hands of a few criminals.
"The sale of illegal tobacco is not about providing a service; it's about profits for a few individuals, who create an unfair market where legitimate businesses find it increasingly difficult to compete."
Penalties for tobacco smuggling include: seizure of all goods and vehicles used, heavy fines, loss of lottery terminal and/or liquor licence and up to seven years in jail.
Each packet of cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco for sale in the UK must carry the words "UK DUTY PAID" in a rectangular box printed indelibly on the packet. It is an offence to possess, sell, deal, transport or store cigarettes or hand-rolling tobacco without the pack mark or for premises to be used for the sale of unmarked products.
(gmcg)
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Customs Officers have netted around 300,000 cigarettes in an operation at Belfast International Airport (BIA) carried out this morning. Customs assisted by police detected the cigarettes on flights arriving from Spain and the Canary Islands, a haul which would have amounted to approximately £50,000 in lost revenue.
20 August 2002
Customs net £1.5m haul of smuggled cigarettes
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Customs seize illegal cigarettes at Larne port
Customs officers have seized nearly three million duty free cigarettes concealed in a consignment of Bulgarian matches arriving at the Port of Larne via Liverpool.
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26 July 2011
Ballymena Cigs Factory Accident Probed
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
