Illegal cigarettes seized at port

Customs officers have seized nine million illegal cigarettes which they say were heading for Lancashire.

The cigarettes were found in a container at Felixstowe, Suffolk, which had arrived by ship from Namibia.

It had been marked as charcoal but officers opened the container and the contraband Benson and Hedges Gold cigarettes were found.

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said the load was destined for Burnley.

Jim Jarvie, Deputy Director for Central Region UK Border Agency (UKBA) said: "This is a large seizure of illegal cigarettes that without the intervention of UKBA officers working alongside 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."