LOUGHTON: Trio jailed over illegal cigarette importation (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

LOUGHTON: Trio jailed over illegal cigarette importation

4:12pm Wednesday 17th September 2008 in

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THREE men – including one from Loughton – have been sentenced to a total of ten years imprisonment after pleading guilty to evading almost £2 million in duty following the illegal importation of millions of cigarettes into the UK.

Ipswich Crown Court was told that on May 24 last year 800,000 cigarettes were discovered by HM Revenue and Customs officers which had been delivered to a self storage unit in Chelmsford.

Polish national Radoslaw Mis, 31 of Vincent Road, London, was arrested as he took delivery of the consignment. The following day 1.2 million cigarettes were discovered in a similar consignment delivered to a self storage unit in Colchester.

On August 9 last year, 660,000 cigarettes were discovered in a consignment delivered to a self storage unit in Peterborough which was rented by Polish national Marcin Skulski, 33, of Droveway, Loughton. He was arrested at his home shortly after. HMRC investigators identified that Mis, Skulski and a third Polish national, Rafal Galach, 27 of Lower Shrubland Road, London, were all involved in the frequent importation of cigarettes into the UK using a large number of self storage units they had hired in London and the east of England. Galach was also arrested.

The investigation linked the trio to earlier cigarette seizures at Dover and at self storage units in Edmonton and Woolwich. These importations totalled 5.4 million cigarettes. Mis absconded before committal but was successfully extradited from Poland to stand trial. On September 12 Skulski pleaded guilty to Cheating the Public Revenue of £875,000, Mis of £600,000 and Galach of £500,000.

Skulski and Mis were sentenced to three-and-a-half years imprisonment and Galach to three years. Confiscation proceedings are being pursued.

HM Revenue and Customs assistant director of criminal investigation east, John Kay, said: “From relatively small initial detections, this skilful and determined investigation has led to the successful prosecution of three men responsible for the large scale smuggling of cigarettes over a period of many months. “We cannot underestimate the deterrent impact this prosecution will have on those involved in this illegal activity. Smugglers are criminals who don’t care who they sell to, even children.

Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to alcohol, drugs or tobacco smuggling should call our 24 hour Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000."

In sentencing, Judge Goodin said: “This was a professional and wide ranging smuggling operation over a considerable time, with many hallmarks of a professional organisation.

“The level of duty evaded is a factor in considering the sentence, a legitimate load masked each consignment and this was necessary in the operation to disguise these activities.”