Parents smuggled ‘128,000 cigarettes’ for their children
A NON-SMOKING couple caught smuggling enough tobacco into Britain to make 128,000 cigarettes said it was for their heavy-smoking children and friends, a court heard.
James and Tracey Holland were asked by their five children to pick up tobacco while away on three trips abroad.
They brought back almost 177lb last summer and evaded paying £18,702.79 in duty, it was said.
There was enough tobacco in the haul to supply a 20-a-day smoker for 17-and-a-half years.
Southampton magistrates heard this week that Holland, 52, and his wife, 50, stuffed the tobacco in suitcases and failed to declare it.
They first brought back 73lb June for friends and family.
The pair, of Sholing, Southampton, brought back a similar amount of rolling tobacco through Bournemouth airport in August.
Mr Holland then smuggled in just over 27lb through Gatwick airport in September. He admitted three offences of fraudulently evading a duty and was given an 18-week jail last sentence, suspended for 12 months. Barry Keel, defending, said Mr Holland acknowledged he was the “prime mover” in the operation.
His wife admitted two offences of fraudulently evading duty and was given an eight-week jail sentence, also suspended for 12 months.
From the two trips made with her husband she had avoided paying £15,755.07 in duty.
The court heard neither of them smoked but their five children were “heavy smokers” and had asked their parents to pick up tobacco.
One of the couple’s children lives in Spain, which the defence said explained the pair’s frequent trips.
Mr Keel said the couple “knew they had been stupid” and that they should have stopped taking requests from family and friends that were “going to get them into trouble”.
Magistrate Derek Alan told Mr Holland: “These offences are quite serious. Next time you go abroad, enjoy the holiday and don’t bring any contraband back with you.”