£6m Cigarette Smuggling Bust In South Armagh

Four men arrested after HMRC and PSNI seize over 11 million non-duty paid cigarettes.

A major cigarette smuggling operation has been disrupted in South Armagh after a joint operation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

On Monday 4 November, officers searched two premises near Newry and seized a staggering 11.5 million cigarettes that had not paid UK duty. The haul is estimated to have a potential duty and tax revenue loss of around £6 million.

In addition to the cigarettes, officers also seized a number of vehicles suspected to be involved in the smuggling operation, along with fuel laundering equipment and 400 litres of illegal fuel. Four men, aged between 23 and 33, were arrested in connection with the operation but have since been released on bail. Dermot Clarke, Operational Lead, 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 shops that serve local communities.

"We continue to work closely with our partners to relentlessly pursue the determined minority who refuse to play by the rules."

The Police Service of Northern Ireland’s District Commander for Newry, Mourne and Down, Superintendent Norman Haslett, said:

"This is an incredibly significant seizure and shows that we are committed to working with our partners to keep communities safe in Northern Ireland.

"We remain resolute in our efforts to put those suspected of profiting from criminality before the courts."

Anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco or alcohol should report it to HMRC online.