Plymouth pensioners caught trying to smuggle tobacco
THREE Plymouth people in their 60s have been stopped allegedly trying to smuggle tobacco through Exeter Airport.
Officers from the UK Boarding Agency (UKBA) seized 45kg of hand-rolling tobacco from three passengers attempting to take the goods through the airport on Tuesday night.
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In the first interception, a 65-year-old man and his 61-year-old wife, from Estover, were stopped by UKBA officers after they arrived on a flight from Alicante, Spain.
A search of their baggage revealed they had a total of 35 kilos of tobacco (enough to make 70,000 cigarettes), 1,600 cigarettes and 150 cigars. The goods were seized and the revenue evaded was around £5,800.
Also stopped off the same flight was a 62-year-old man, from the Hartley area of Plymouth, who had 10kg of tobacco. The tobacco was also seized and the revenue evaded was about £1,500.
Bob Gaiger, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) spokesman in the South West, said the three were released pending further enquiries.
He said: “If travelling within the EU you can bring back as much tobacco as you like as long as it's for your own personal use.
“As a guideline, we think three kilos is a reasonable quantity for an average smoker to use over six months.
“If people have more, we will be asking questions.
“Smuggling and selling tobacco and other excise goods is not a harmless tax fiddle. It cheats the Government of revenue which can be used to fund public services such as schools and hospitals.”
He continued the three apprehended were carrying an 'excessive amount'.
Mr Gaiger added. “We will be making further enquiries and, if we think we need to, will arrest them and interview them formally.”
Tuesday's seizures follow a number of recent anti-smuggling operations at Exeter Airport.
On May 30, a husband and wife aged 66 and 67, travelling with a second man aged 70, all from the Devonport area of Plymouth, were stopped after they had arrived on a flight from Malaga.
They were carrying a total of 13kg of tobacco and 2,000 cigarettes.
On June 6, 16kg of tobacco and 740 cigarettes were seized from a 50-year-old Paignton man after he arrived on a flight from Alicante. Off the same flight, 15kg of tobacco were seized from a 64-year-old man from Newton Abbot.
In a number of these cases, further enquiries are being undertaken by HM Revenue & Customs investigation officers.
Mr Gaiger said: “UKBA and HMRC will not hesitate to take action against those involved in cigarette and tobacco smuggling. Smugglers should not see regional airports like Exeter as a soft touch.”
Carole Upshall, regional director South of UKBA, said: “We will continue to work with our partners in HMRC to tackle the smugglers who attempt to bring goods illegally into the UK.
“Smugglers are criminals who are only out to make a profit; they do not care about the harm that they cause by smuggling, whether it's drugs, tobacco goods or illegal immigrants.”
18 Comments
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by dave, honicknowle
Saturday, June 21 2008, 4:09AM
“yet the plymouth courts let a guy off a day or two ago with £10,000 of cannabis in his shed. perhaps that was for his own personal use .”
by Brian, Plymouth
Thursday, June 19 2008, 3:47PM
“Gala bingo Sunday night very expensive pastime 80% of the punters are pensioners the poor pensioners ! who say can`t afford this or that !”
by jack thompson, andover
Thursday, June 19 2008, 12:50PM
“Some of the comments made are utter nonsense. If you commit a crime you should pay the penalty. If they do not like the rules then get rid of the people, i.e. parliament, that made them. There was a chance last year to rid ourselves of this hopeless government and the nation failed to do so.
We get what we deserve and comments condoning crime only show this statement to be true.”
by Suzannah, Stoke
Thursday, June 19 2008, 12:46PM
“They were old enough to have known better, just because they are pensioners doesn't mean they are above the law. Smoking is a disgusting habit and costs the NHS a fortune - that's why it is taxed heavily. And "Mum-of-3", you should be setting your children a better example as they will grow up thinking it is ok to smoke cancer sticks.”
by Suzannah, Stoke
Thursday, June 19 2008, 12:35PM
“These pensioners are old enough to know better, they are not above the law just because they are pensioners. They shouldn¿t be smoking at their age anyway. Smokers cost the NHS an awful lot of money with their smoking related health issues (I know as I work at Derriford). Smokers have no respect for rules. Despite Derriford being a non-smoking site, all the addicts are there outside the hospital and at the bus stops puffing away on their cancer sticks. Smoking should be banned completely, it is a harmful, disgusting habit. And ¿Mum-of-3¿ ¿ you should not be encouraging your children to smoke, you should be setting them a better example.”
by Dan, plymouth
Thursday, June 19 2008, 11:01AM
“Good on the OAPs. nufin wrong wiv makin life cheaper. makes all the others lives cheaper too. not everyone can afford all the tax added onto everythin. i say carry on people”
by Dan, Plymouth
Thursday, June 19 2008, 10:59AM
“good on the OAPs. Nufin wrong wiv makin a bit of money for themselves and it makes life easier for all the smokers like me. i say carry on doin it!”
by JMinSpain, Spain
Thursday, June 19 2008, 9:37AM
“Smuggling tobacco on this scale must make a small profit, perhaps enough to cover the flights. Still, it is criminal to avoid paying tax, tax that is needed to pay the expenses of poor members of parliament who are struggling to maintain two or more homes on their low incomes.
Maybe your paper could start a ¿spot the real criminal¿ competition, but then the jobsworths of UKBA & HMRC think they are already doing that.”
by John, Spain
Thursday, June 19 2008, 9:35AM
“Smuggling tobacco on this scale must make a small profit, perhaps enough to cover the flights. Still, it is criminal to avoid paying tax, tax that is needed to pay the expenses of poor members of parliament who are struggling to maintain two or more homes on their low incomes.
Maybe your paper could start a ¿spot the real criminal¿ competition, but then the jobsworths of UKBA & HMRC think they are already doing that.”
by John, Spain
Thursday, June 19 2008, 9:31AM
“Smuggling tobacco on this scale must make a small profit, perhaps enough to cover the flights. Still, it is criminal to avoid paying tax, tax that is needed to pay the expenses of poor members of parliament who are struggling to maintain two or more homes on their low incomes.
Maybe your paper could start a ¿spot the real criminal¿ competition, but then the jobsworths of UKBA & HMRC think they are already doing that.”