Shipment of illegal fags is stubbed out
HMRC seized 600k cigarettes on M74 Lanarkshire corridor
EMYLIE HOWIE
Police in Strathaven are asking for help after a fire was deliberately set at a town centre pub.
The fire at the Drumclog Inn on Todshill Street was said to be set around 11.25am on Monday last week.
Specialist officers are now investigating the matter and are asking for help from members of the public.
A Police Scotland source said the fire was“small”but was still being taken seriously.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101.
Information can be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A van driver has been arrested after an estimated 600,000 illicit cigarettes were seized by HM Revenue and Customs.
The vehicle was stopped by Police Scotland officers while driving southbound on M74 in the Lanarkshire area at about 11am on Friday, August 14.
Officers discovered the haul in the back of the van and alerted HMRC.
The estimated duty lost on the cigarettes could have been as much as £185,000.
A 32-year-old man from Coventry was arrested and interviewed at Motherwell Police Station by HMRC officers before being charged with excise duty fraud.
Joe Hendry of the HMRC said: “We are committed to disrupting the distribution of illicit tobacco across the UK and levelling the playing field for local businesses who cannot compete with criminal competitors.
“Anyone with information about people or businesses involved in tax fraud can contact our HMRC Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887 or online at gov.uk.”
In the last two financial years alone, more than 2.8 billion illicit cigarettes and 439 tonnes of hand-rolling tobacco have been seized by HMRC resulting in 628 positive charging decisions.
HMRC and Police Scotland support the work of Scotland's Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, which brings together a range of organisations to disrupt, detect and deter criminal groups, and divert people away from involvement in serious organised crime.
Insp. Gary Tickner, of the road policing division, said: “This seizure is an excellent example of our partnership with HMRC in tackling organised crime groups.
“We continue to work closely with partner agencies to detect and disrupt criminal activity in our communities.”
Earlier this year, Police Scotland identified the M74 corridor as key to serious crime activity in Scotland, with the road used to ferry illegal goods and substances.
That's after they seized millions of pounds worth of illegal substances as part of Operation Venetic.