Toboacco and booze worth thousands seized from Wolverhampton market stall

Apr 4 2008 By Tony Deeley

THOUSANDS of pounds worth of alcohol and tobacco, some allegedly counterfeit, was seized by customs officials from a Black Country market stall.

Customs officers swooped on a stall in Wolverhampton's Indoor Market Hall to challenge a man in his 40s from Wolverhampton for selling what was believed to be smuggled and counterfeit goods.

With support from Wolverhampton Trading Standards officers, items were seized from the man's stall and from his home address in Heath Town, Wolverhampton, after a search of the premises.

In total 256 bottles of vodka, 96,280 cigarettes and 13.37 kilos of hand rolling tobacco were recovered.

Officials said today the estimated revenue loss was £1,582 on the alcohol, £17,519 on the cigarettes and £1,833 on the hand rolling tobacco.

In addition a transit van was also seized.

Keith Morgan, detection manager for HM Revenue & Customs, said some of the goods were counterfeit, posing potential health risks to the public.

"This latest seizure highlights the importance of our role in the community in helping to stamp out illegal trading, smuggling and tax evasion," he said.

"We want to alert the public not to buy alcohol or tobacco products from any unlicensed source or location or at what seems like a bargain price. The alcohol is likely to be illicit and spirits could well be counterfeit and harmful, even lethal.

"In addition, counterfeit cigarettes pose extra health risks to the public due to the highly toxic set of ingredients they contain. With expertly crafted packaging it is almost impossible to spot counterfeit cigarettes until you experience the ill effects from smoking them."

Mr Morgan said no arrests had currently been made.

Anyone with information relating to suspected stolen or illegally imported goods to contact the confidential hotline on 0800 59 5000 or e-mail customs.confidential@hmrc.gsigov.uk