ACS

Customs officials have seized nine million fake cigarettes worth £1.57m in duty, which were destined for the streets of Burnley.

The massive haul of cigarettes was made on August 5th when UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers swooped on the port of Felixstowe, Suffolk.

The cigarettes arrived in containers from Namibia and were described as containing charcoal, but when officers opened the load they found it packed with fake cigarettes.

Mr Jim Jarvie, deputy director for central region UKBA, said: "This is a large seizure of illegal cigarettes that without the intervention of UKBA officers working alongside HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) colleagues would have flooded our streets.

"A vital part of UKBA and HMRC's work is to protect the interests of honest shopkeepers by preventing commercial smuggling and the onward transport and sale of illegal cigarettes."

Mr Dave Gostelow, a HMRC spokesman, added: "UKBA and HMRC are keen to work closely with local people and business communities in the fight against cigarette fraud."

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “We welcome this sizeable haul however this only scratches the surface of the problem. More resources are needed at local level to tackle the sale of counterfeit cigarettes such as those in pubs, at car boot sales and on street corners.”