Tobacco Smuggling Seized in Belfast

Police seized 20,000 illegal cigarettes during raids in Belfast on Thursday morning. The cigarettes, which are worth around £4,500 in unpaid excise duty and VAT, were uncovered at a house and car in east Belfast. In a separate search carried out at the same time in the south of the city, officers seized a further 500 illicit discount Glamour cigarettes. The raids were carried out as part of a joint operation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the PSNI. John Whiting, Assistant Director Criminal Investigation for HMRC said: "Tobacco smuggling is organised criminality on a global scale and robs the taxpayer of millions each year in unpaid duty and VAT."