Husband and Wife from Chesterfield Jailed for Cigarette Smuggling

Courtesy of HMRC

A husband and wife, Melvin and Serena Mellors from Chesterfield, who ran an illicit enterprise dealing in smuggled tobacco and cigarettes, have been jailed.

It follows an investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Officers seized nearly 400,000 cigarettes and 234 kilos of hand rolling tobacco from a self storage unit rented by the couple at Whittington Moor, Chesterfield, in February 2011.

Some of the cigarettes were counterfeit and included brands such as Regal Kingsize, Palace and Beaufort, resulting in a duty loss of over £100,000 from public finances.

Gary Lampon, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation for HMRC, said:

"We are determined to eradicate this form of criminality and raise awareness of the dangers of this illicit trade. It has a devastating effect on all communities including legitimate retailers having to compete with black market goods. Tobacco smuggling costs the country around £2 billion in lost revenue each year – money that could be funding vital public services.”

He added: "We are urging the public to be vigilant. Cheap tobacco products can often seem like an attractive offer to people, lured into purchasing them at what seem like bargain prices. However, the truth is these sales are unlicensed and unregulated. Those involved are not concerned if they are selling to underage children and young people. In addition, with expertly crafted packaging it is almost impossible to spot whether the goods are counterfeit. Like any other counterfeit product, individuals don’t know exactly what they are buying.”

HMRC is calling on local people to work more closely with it in the fight against crime and encourages anyone aware of illicit cigarettes to contact the Customs hotline on 0800 59 5000. Calls can be made anonymously.

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