Almost 30,000 counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes have been seized from premises in north Belfast by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

During early morning raids at eight premises in north Belfast yesterday, Revenue and Customs officers, supported by the PSNI, seized 28,000 counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes and business records.

As part of an ongoing programme of visits to businesses across Northern Ireland, HMRC officers used new hand-held scanning equipment to quickly identify counterfeit or non UK-duty paid tobacco products.

The scanner detects covert security markings on the packaging, invisible to the naked eye, and gives an instant indication of counterfeit or smuggled tobacco.

“The unregulated sale of illegal cigarettes is not a victimless or harmless crime and encourages otherwise honest people to trade with criminals,” Brian Dixon, Specialist Investigations, HMRC, said..

“The gangs behind this form of criminality are motivated solely by greed and personal gain.”

“We are tackling tobacco fraud at all points of the supply chain, from smuggling and storage through to sale, and we are now using new technology to quickly identify the illegal and counterfeit products.

“We will continue to work with our partner agencies, the PSNI and the Organised Crime Task Force, to combat this crime but we are also keen to work closely with local people.

“We would encourage anyone who knows of someone selling cheap or duty free cigarettes and tobacco to contact our hotline on 0800 59 5000.”