Smuggler claimed 50,000 cigarettes were for personal use
02.11.07
A man caught on three seperate occasions trying to smuggle a total of more than 50,000 cigarettes into the UK told investigating officers they were for his own use, Newcastle Crown Court heard this week.
Michael Gilroy was stopped on three occasions earlier this year trying to bring the thousands of cigarettes through various English airports, the court was told. The 39-year-old travelled to Dubai in January, March and April and tried to bring a total of 54,780 cigarettes back into the UK without paying duty.
Mr. Gilroy was given warnings by officials at London City Airport and Newcastle Airport on the first two occasions and was told by customs officers that he was only allowed to bring in 200 cigarettes without paying duty. However, he was caught a third time at Heathrow on April 28 and arrested after trying to smuggle in a batch of 17,200 cigarettes into the UK.
Mr. Gilroy admitted trying to evade £11,108 in tax duty on the goods. Judge Michael Cartlidge told him: 'I have seriously thought about sending you to prison.' However, the drug addict was given a 12-month community order with a supervision requirement. He was also ordered to complete a drug rehabilitation programme.
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book a newcastle airport hotel or newcastle airport car parking at the lowest price click on these links to newcastle airport car parking and newcastle airport hotel price comparison pages.
