TWO people have been charged as part of an ongoing investigation by HMRC into a suspected £300,000 illicit tobacco and cigarette fraud in Glasgow.
The investigation was launched after a number of HMRC officers searched a residential address in the city on Wednesday, January 10.
About 90,000 cigarettes and one tonne of loose tobacco were seized at the address. A 47-year-old man and 43-year-old woman have been charged and remanded in custody.
Cheryl Burr, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: "Tobacco fraudsters are costing the UK around £2.5 billion a year in lost taxes. This is theft of money which should be going to fund public services and is ending up in the pockets of criminals.
"We are disrupting the distribution of illicit tobacco across the UK and levelling the playing field for local businesses who cannot compete with their criminal competitors.
"We encourage anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco to contact our fraud hotline on 0800 788 887."
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