Man claims 50,000 smuggled cigarettes were for personal use
02.11.07
A man caught trying to smuggle more than 50,000 cigarettes into the UK told investigating officers they were for his own use, a court heard this week.
Michael Gilroy was stopped on three separate occasions this year trying to bring the thousands of cigarettes through various English airports, Newcastle Crown Court was told. The 39-year-old travelled to Dubai in January, March and April and tried to bring a total of 54,780 cigarettes into the UK.
Mr. Gilroy was given warnings by officials at London City Airport and Newcastle Airport and told by customs officers that he was only allowed to bring in 200 cigarettes without paying duty, the court was told. But he was caught a third time at Heathrow on April 28 and arrested after trying to smuggle in a third batch of 17,200 cigarettes.
Mr. Gilroy admitted trying to evade paying £11,108 in tax duty on the goods. Judge Michael Cartlidge told him: 'I have seriously thought about sending you to prison.' He was given a 12-month community order with a supervision requirement when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court. He was also ordered to complete a drug rehabilitation programme.
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