6 MEN CHARGED WITH DUTY EVASION AFTER CUSTOMS SEIZE CIGARRETTES

22 Oct 2003 10:15 AM

Six men were charged with duty evasion offences late last night following the seizure of over 23 million counterfeit cigarettes by Customs Officers in July and August this year. The six are:

Andrew Smith, 36. George Grassick, 46. Andrew Middlecote, 32. John Owens, 48. Angelo Godlington, 42. Steven Horace White, 34.

All six men are due to appear at Gloucester Magistrates Court this morning.

Two women and another man have been bailed until January 2004.

ENDS

Note to editors:

The text of the original news release issued yesterday is as follows:

"Customs investigators and the Police Service of Northern Ireland have mounted an operation against the smuggling of counterfeit cigarettes from the Far East into England and Northern Ireland today. Customs spokesman Bob Gaiger said: "Our operation carried out early this morning has been a tremendous success. We believe that we have dismantled a longstanding and sophisticated counterfeit cigarette smuggling and distribution network. These cigarettes could have been sold to smokers as 'cheap' genuine cigarettes but in reality they are fake.

"There is absolutely no control of nicotine and tar levels in the manufacture of these fake cigarettes. And you simply cannot be sure what other pollutants and chemicals are in these cigarettes that could pose added and unknown dangers to your health".

Cigarettes, believed to have been manufactured in China, were shipped in freight containers to the ports of Southampton and Belfast, hidden in consignments of furniture. During July and August 2003, ten sea containers were intercepted, and more than 23 million cigarettes were seized. The duty evaded on these cigarettes was about £4 million.

Customs Officers and the Police Service of Northern Ireland executed search warrants in Birmingham, the West Midlands, Gloucestershire, Bristol and Northern Ireland. Seven men and two women are currently under arrest on suspicion of being involved in the smuggling and distribution of cigarettes, together with the laundering of the proceeds of crime. They will be interviewed during the course of today."

If using specific facts contained in this release please check the information is still current.

Issued by HM Customs and Excise Communications Division, South West.

Visit the Customs website on: www.hmce.gov.uk

Anyone with information about illegally imported drugs, tobacco or alcohol or about VAT fraud can speak to a Customs officer in complete confidence. Call Customs Confidential 24 hours a day on 0800 59 5000 www.hmce.gov.uk