Kickboxing champ jailed for cigarette scam

Jun 25 2007 By Steve Johnson, Birmingham Mail

A TEENAGE kickboxing champion from the Black Country has been jailed for 21 months for his part in a major cigarette smuggling scam.

Sam Carl Shane Passey, 18, of Calewood Road, Quarry Bank, was caught unloading a lorry containing more than 700,000 illicit cigarettes on the Newey industrial estate in Sedgley Road, Dudley.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told that Passey, the England under-21s kickboxing champion who also represents Shropshire and England under-21s at darts, tried to flee the scene to avoid arrest but was caught by customs officers.

His accomplice Robert David Williams, 55, of Lea Bank Road, Netherton, Dudley, was also involved in the scam, in which £105,000 of excise duty was evaded.

Both men were sentenced to 21 months imprisonment when they appeared before the court for sentencing on Friday.

The court heard that there was an intensive investigation by Revenue and Customs, which resulted in the men being caught on July 10 last year.

They were seen unloading a Hungarian lorry containing 703,000 illicit cigarettes, which had been hidden within a consignment of security gates.

The cigarettes, all Ronson Red, were destined for sale on the black market in the UK, although the brand is produced for export only.

Judge Anthony Cleary said: "Each of you played a part and were both willing participants in this sophisticated and criminal organisation."

Passey had denied cigarette smuggling but was found guilty after a two-week trial. Williams pleaded guilty to the charge.

Nick Burriss, Assistant Chief Investigation Officer for HM Revenue and Customs, said: "Smuggling cigarettes is not a harmless tax fiddle.

"It cheats the Government of revenue which can be used to fund public services such as schools and hospitals. We will not hesitate to take action against those involved in cigarette smuggling."