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HMRC officers uncover tobacco processing plant | HMRC officers uncover tobacco processing plant |
(about 9 hours later) | |
The first raw tobacco processing plant ever to be discovered in Northern Ireland has been raided by customs officers. | The first raw tobacco processing plant ever to be discovered in Northern Ireland has been raided by customs officers. |
Five people, three of them foreign nationals, were arrested in counties Tyrone and Down. | Five people, three of them foreign nationals, were arrested in counties Tyrone and Down. |
Twelve tonnes of raw tobacco, two million cigarettes and £50,000 were also seized during the operation on Tuesday. | |
Police and customs officers searched nine addresses in Down, Tyrone and Armagh. | Police and customs officers searched nine addresses in Down, Tyrone and Armagh. |
In the Republic of Ireland, simultaneous searches took place in Louth and Dublin by police and customs officers there. | In the Republic of Ireland, simultaneous searches took place in Louth and Dublin by police and customs officers there. |
The raids were part of a HM Revenues and Customs investigation into a suspected £110m tobacco fraud. | The raids were part of a HM Revenues and Customs investigation into a suspected £110m tobacco fraud. |
Mike Parkinson, assistant director of criminal investigation at HMRC, said: "The trade in illicit tobacco is unregulated and makes cheaper tobacco more readily available to the young and vulnerable. | Mike Parkinson, assistant director of criminal investigation at HMRC, said: "The trade in illicit tobacco is unregulated and makes cheaper tobacco more readily available to the young and vulnerable. |
"Tobacco fraud is a highly organised global crime which costs the £2bn a year in lost taxes. | "Tobacco fraud is a highly organised global crime which costs the £2bn a year in lost taxes. |
"Co-operation with our partners across the UK, Ireland and overseas is essential if we are to tackle this problem effectively." | "Co-operation with our partners across the UK, Ireland and overseas is essential if we are to tackle this problem effectively." |
HMRC officers said up to a third of the UK market for hand-rolled tobacco is from illegal sources. | HMRC officers said up to a third of the UK market for hand-rolled tobacco is from illegal sources. |
It is illegal to process raw tobacco and sell it without paying customs duty on it. | It is illegal to process raw tobacco and sell it without paying customs duty on it. |
This has been a cross-border operation with several properties raided and more than 400,000 cigarettes seized in the Republic of Ireland. | This has been a cross-border operation with several properties raided and more than 400,000 cigarettes seized in the Republic of Ireland. |
The raw tobacco has clearly been imported from abroad and the operation to examine its source is continuing. | The raw tobacco has clearly been imported from abroad and the operation to examine its source is continuing. |
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