CUSTOMS SEIZE BOOTLEG FAGS & BOOZE
Over one million cigarettes and thousands of litres of alcohol are uncovered in warehouse raid
An investigation is underway after more than one million bootleg cigarettes and hundreds of bottles of booze were seized at a warehouse in West Lothian.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has seized about 1.1 million illicit cigarettes and more than two dozen pallets of alcohol at an industrial park in Whitburn.
An investigation is now underway after officers made the discovery last Wednesday (April 27).
Around 5000 litres of whisky, 2600 litres of vodka and 2900 litres of prosecco were found in the warehouse, along with £5000 in cash.
The goods are thought to be worth about £631,000 in lost duty in taxes.
A van and a forklift at the scene were also seized. No arrests have been made and enquiries are continuing.
An HMRC spokesperson said: “The sale of illegal tobacco and alcohol will not be tolerated by HMRC or our partner agencies.
“Disrupting criminal trade is at the heart of our strategy to clampdown on the illicit tobacco and alcohol market, which collectively costs the UK around £3.3 billion a year.
“This is theft from the taxpayer and undermines legitimate traders.”
Anyone with information about the illegal sale of cigarettes and alcohol should report it to HMRC online at gov.uk.