A Glasgow shop assistant who hid over a thousand non-duty paid cigarettes down his trousers has been jailed.
Kameran Kader was caught while working at the Kurdistan Shop on Westmuir Street, Parkhead, in 2015.
The 42-year-old stuffed the goods down his trousers and inside popcorn boxes when officers visited his work.
After initially giving a false name and address, a stash of 1,400 non-duty paid cigarettes were found in his jogging bottoms.
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A full sweep of shop uncovered another 137,160 non-duty paid cigarettes in popcorn boxes. The total duty evaded was £41,259.62.
Kader, of Dunphail Drive, was charged in May 2015 but absconded from a prelimary hearing in March 2017 at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
A warrant was issued for his arrest and he was eventually brought into custody on February 7 this year.
He pleaded guilty on June 13 and was sentenced to 346 days in jail.
Joe Hendry, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “Criminals like Kader undercut legitimate retailers and deprive the UK of money needed to fund our public services.
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“HMRC will continue to target the supply of illicit tobacco, which costs the UK around £2.5 billion a year.
"Anyone with information regarding the smuggling, storage or sale of illegal tobacco can report it to HMRC online or call our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”
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