£60,000-plus counterfeit cigarette seizure in Swindon

By Barrie Hudson - 7 August 2020

Crime

Counterfeit cigarettes were found and a man arrested after police stopped a Mercedes in Haydon Wick.

  • Officers searched a car and later found more cigarettes at an address

    Officers searched a car and later found more cigarettes at an address

A force spokesperson said the cigarettes were worth more than £60,000.

The car was stopped and searched on Wednesday evening, and a 41-year-old local man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of possessing counterfeit goods and money laundering.

The spokesperson said a further search of a nearby house which the man had been seen leaving prior to his arrest led to the recovery of further cigarettes and tobacco

Insp Barry Reed said: “This was a significant find – we believe the cigarettes and tobacco seized to be in excess of £60,000-worth and we are now working closely with Trading Standards and HMRC to progress this investigation. 

“We would like to thank the local community for the information they provided us with in relation to suspicious activity at the address as this assisted greatly with the investigation.”

The arrested man has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

Your Comments

Be the first to comment on this article

Login or Register to post a comment on this article

Subscribe to The Link

Registered in England & Wales. No: 4513027, Positive Media Group, Old Bank House, 5 Devizes Road, Old Town, Swindon, SN1 4BJ