A Lancashire businessman has been charged with the importation of 21.3 million counterfeit cigarettes at Southampton Container Terminal. This is the biggest detection of its type in the city.

HM Revenue & Customs' (HMRC) criminal investigators carried out detailed enquiries, resulting in the charge made today, following the contrabands discovery by UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers on Wednesday 17 December 2008.

Guy Simpson, 52, of Chorley, Lancashire, will appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Thursday 4 June 2009.

The counterfeit Regal brand cigarettes, wrapped in brown paper packages, were crammed into two 40 foot containers that arrived by cargo vessel from China. Officers counted 10.8 million cigarettes in the first consignment and 10.5 million in the second. The amount of revenue evaded is estimated at £4.5 million.

Peter Avery, HMRC Assistant Director Criminal Investigation, said:

"Southampton's biggest cigarette haul has prevented dangerous counterfeit cigarettes from reaching the UK's streets. Cigarette smugglers don't care about the damage they cause by undercutting honest retailers and tobacconists - or what health dangers lurk in unlicensed and unregulated tobacco. All smugglers care about is profit. We will continue to work closely with our UKBA colleagues to root out these criminals. Anyone with information about illegal smuggling activities should call the Customs' Hotline on 0800 59 5000."

Notes

1. This is the first time the case has been publicised, due to the ongoing investigation.

2. Simpson was charged, in relation to 21.3 million cigarettes, with being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of any duty chargeable on the goods, contrary to Section 170(2) (a) of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) 1979.

3. The cigarettes have been shredded and burnt at a power station to fuel the national grid.

4. The estimated high street retail price for this number of cigarettes is around £5.3 million.