A GLASGOW woman who ran a £39,000 tobacco counterfeiting fraud has been jailed.

Xiao Mei Wang, 48, was sentenced to two years behind bars after she was investigated by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

In raids that took place in 2013 and 2014, HMRC officers found her with thousands of fake tobacco pouches, 120kgs of counterfeit tobacco and illicit cigarettes stashed.

Wang ran the fraud from her flat in West Graham Street.

UK Border Force officers from Glasgow, East Midlands and Stansted airports also alerted HMRC after intercepting counterfeit labels destined for her flat.

In total, 24,155 counterfeit labels were found either in her flat or stopped en route – enough packaging to evade almost £218,000 in duty.

David Odd, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: "Wang had equipment to counterfeit large quantities of illicit tobacco in her living room but she will now pay the price for her criminal behaviour.

"Tobacco fraud costs UK public services £2 billion a year in lost taxes.

"This illegal trade is unregulated and those involved are more likely to sell products to children and vulnerable people.

"Anyone with information about smuggled or counterfeit tobacco products should contact the Customs hotline on 0800 59 5000."

Authorities confirmed the £2710 was forfeited to The Crown.