Smuggled cigarettes seized on the M6
MORE than 400,000 cigarettes smuggled into the UK from Europe have been prevented from hitting Birmingham's streets after a motorway swoop.
Customs officers uncovered the massive smuggling operation after stopping the city-bound truck on the M6 in the West Midlands on Tuesday.
The "substantial" haul of Polish cigarettes included popular brands such as Marlboro and L & Ms.
The loss to the public purse had the cigarettes been sold on the streets of Birmingham totalled more than £60,000.
No arrests were made in the swoop north of junction 3 at Coventry and investigations were ongoing.
The cigarettes will be incinerated to help fire the national grid.
Revenue & Customs Senior Investigation Officer John Theobald said: "We are pleased we have been successful again in stopping smuggled cigarettes from reaching local streets."
