JAILED FOR SMUGGLING 40 MILLION CIGARETTES

25 Mar 2006 04:00 AM

Following extradition from Greece, 55 year old William Bullock McPhee was jailed for five years at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday 21 March 2006. He was convicted of attempting to smuggle over 40 million cigarettes into the UK through Felixstowe International Port. His Honour Judge Ball QC described McPhee as "a persistently dishonest man who made a living from dishonest dealings".

The court heard that officers from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) intercepted seven containers over a two-year period during 2001 and 2002. When officers opened the containers, they found approximately seven million cigarettes in each one. There had been no attempt at concealment. The total Revenue evaded was £6,822,659.25

McPhee absconded before his first trial on 11 February 2002. He was arrested and extradited from Athens on 2 September 2005. In court he pleaded guilty to absconding from the original trial and pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Import Cigarettes.

HMRC acting Chief Investigating Officer John Phillips said:

"This is an excellent result and demonstrates HMRC's continuing commitment to tackling tobacco smuggling. This was a well organised and sophisticated operation and proves that tobacco smuggling is not a small scale, victimless crime. It can be highly organised and lucrative and we are working to tackle that threat.

Smokers who think that they are getting a bargain don't realise that this trade damages honest businesses, and costs billions in lost revenue, which could be funding public services. I urge members of the public or traders who are aware of any suspicious activities that may be linked to tobacco smuggling to call our 24-hour confidential freephone number 0800 59 5000."

This case was successfully prosecuted by the Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO). RCPO is an independent prosecuting authority, which reports to the Attorney General, and is responsible for the prosecution of all HMRC cases in England & Wales.

Notes for editors
1. William Bullock McPhee's (DOB 27.07.55) last known UK address was 18 Meadowcroft Lane, Bamford, Rochdale, Lancs (February 2002)

2. Copies of documents detailing the progress of HM Revenue & Customs' strategy for tackling tobacco smuggling: Tackling Tobacco Smuggling, Tackling Indirect Tax Losses and Protecting Indirect Tax Revenues are available on the HM Treasury website at
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk.

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

4. The Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) was created by Royal Assent on 7 April 2005. An independent prosecuting authority, RCPO reports directly to the Attorney General, and is responsible for prosecuting some of the largest drug and fraud cases in the UK. For further information about RCPO, please contact their press office on 020 7865 5666.

Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Media Relations Team

Website www.hmrc.gov.uk