250,000 cigarettes seized at Newcastle Airport
28.01.11
UK Border Agency officers at Newcastle Airport intercepted more than a quarter of a million cigarettes that were being smuggled into the region. The cigarettes were found on four separate flights from the Canary Islands in the last seven days. Almost 70kg (154lbs) of hand rolling tobacco was also intercepted. The haul, which was found in the hand and hold luggage of a dozen passengers, will now be destroyed. Investigations are ongoing as a result of the seizures.
Tony McMullin, the UK Border Agency's Deputy Director for Border Force North, said: ‘The seizure of these cigarettes is a big haul for Newcastle, and is indicative of the tight controls we have in place to protect all our borders. A haul of this size would defraud the Government out of significant revenue at a time when the public purse can least afford it.
