LANCASHIRE MEN JAILED FOR CIGARETTE SMUGGLING

9 Feb 2004 11:15 AM

Ashif Patel, 29, of Bolton and Saleem Moosa, 38, of Blackburn have today been sentenced to a total of three years for their part in the illegal importation of 3,000,000 counterfeit Benson and Hedges cigarettes from China, via Dubai. Patel was sentenced to two and a half years and Moosa was given six months. A third accused John O'Donnell, 50, of Bury was sentenced to 200 hours community punishment and ordered to pay £500 costs.

All three pleaded guilty on the first day of the trial on 22 September 2003. Patel and Moosa pleaded guilty to keeping the cigarettes on behalf of others, and O'Donnell pleaded guilty to being knowingly concerned in the importation on the basis that he was to buy some of the cigarettes to sell. A confiscation hearing will take place next month concerning Ashif Patel.

Chris Harrison, Head of Customs Investigation in the Northwest said: "This is an important result in our fight against large scale cigarette smuggling, and we hope the sentences deter others from getting involved.

"We are particularly pleased to have removed these counterfeit cigarettes from the streets as we do not know what is really contained in these cigarettes sold illegally - nor does the seller - but tar and nicotine levels can be far higher than advertised on the packet."

A container had arrived at Southampton Docks on 22 August 2002 from Dubai and was declared as containing "instant noodles". However when the container was x-rayed it showed it contained something else. On physical examination it was found that of the 600 cartons marked as Chinese noodles, 500 in fact contained Benson and Hedges branded cigarettes.

The three men were arrested in September 2002 after Customs officers observed them unloading the cigarettes from the container at an industrial unit in Bolton. Following searches of two cars at the premises, a further 4,610 duty un-paid cigarettes were found and seized along with the two cars; another 20,240 cigarettes were also found at O'Donnell's home address.

Notes for editors

1. Personal details:
Ashif Patel, Bolton: warehouse keeper d.o.b.
25/6/1974

Saleem Moosa, Blackburn: assistant warehouse
keeper d.o.b. 26/1/1966

John O'Donnell, Bury: Unemployed: d.o.b.
18/8/1953

2. Photographs of the container and its contents are available (numbers below). If using specific facts contained in this release please check the information is still current.

Issued by HM Customs and Excise Marketing and Communications Division

Anyone with information about illegally imported drugs, tobacco or alcohol or about VAT or fuel fraud can speak to a Customs officer in complete confidence at Customs Confidential 24 hours a day on 0800 59 5000. Or fax 0800 528 0506, write to Freepost SEA9391, PO Box 100, DA12 2BR, or e-mail customs.confidential@hmce.gsi.gov.uk www.hmce.gov.uk