1.5 million cigarettes seized at Hull

Around 1.5 million cigarettes have been found hidden inside concrete blocks at Hull docks by our officers. Officers uncovered the haul on Thursday night (2 December) following checks on lorry freight arriving from Zeebrugge in Belgium.

Around 1.5 million cigarettes have been found hidden inside concrete blocks at Hull docks by our officers.

Officers uncovered the haul on Thursday night (2 December) following checks on lorry freight arriving from Zeebrugge in Belgium.

During a search of one lorry, officers became suspicious of a consignment of large concrete blocks. Officers removed the end covers of the blocks to uncover the haul of Chinese made cigarettes worth a potential £312,000 in lost revenue.

The 41-year-old, British lorry driver has been arrested pending further enquiries and the lorry has been seized. Enquiries are continuing into the illegal shipment of cigarettes.
Andy Lumb, assistant director, UK Border Agency said:

‘This is an excellent result and shows the dedication of our officers that help to make our border controls at ports so robust. The UK Border Agency searches for a range of items, including drugs and weapons as well as cigarettes and tobacco, to keep our border secure. ‘Cigarettes may be legal, but the smuggling of such goods is often linked to serious organised crime and these groups do not care who they sell them to or what is in them.’

The UK Border Agency’s Border Force, is a dedicated team of officers exercising powers for immigration and customs functions working as a single force, side-by-side to prevent illegal migration and smuggling of illegal goods at the UK border.

Border Force officers interview arriving passengers to identify possible immigration offenders and are equipped with the latest hi-tech equipment, including x-ray machines,and detector dogs to identify smuggled goods in passengers’ luggage.

Anyone who suspects that people may be involved in drug smuggling should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be assured.