Customs seize 18m fake cigarettes

Nearly 18m counterfeit cigarettes were seized at Felixstowe

About 18 million counterfeit cigarettes have been seized by customs staff at a Suffolk container port.

The haul was found in two containers from Dubai, described as disposable plastic goods, and HM Revenue and Customs spokesman said.

It is thought the revenue generated from the sale of the cigarettes, seized in January at Felixstowe Port, would have been nearly £3m.

The duty evaded by the counterfeit cigarettes would have been about £4m.

Maddy Ratnett, of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), said: "This is a large seizure of illegal cigarettes that without the intervention of HMRC officers would have flooded our streets.

All illegal tobacco products are recycled and the tobacco is burnt towards power for the national grid.