Two smugglers caught trying to bring more than 110,000 cigarettes illegally into the UK through Harwich International Port have been jailed.
A car was stopped at the port in September last year after arriving on a ferry from the Hook of Holland.
The cigarettes, of mixed brands, were found hidden throughout the Ford Mondeo – including in the foot wells, head rests, seats, roof lining, bumpers and even the fuel tank.
The 117,240 cigarettes were worth £30,180 in tax.
Dariusz Kierencew admitted evading UK tobacco duty, while and Ewa Holdynska was convicted after a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.
Kierencew, 50, was jailed for ten months while Holdynska, 44, was jailed for 15 months during a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court today, May 26.
HM Revenue and Customs has previously described this type of criminal activity as “not acceptable”, not only for putting small businesses who legally sell cigarettes at risk but also for funding other criminality and taking money away from the Treasury.
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