31 July 2009

Press Release

Cree responds to cigarette seizure

Ulster Unionist MLA for North Down and member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board Leslie Cree has commended the major operation against smuggling which has seen the seizure of more than nine million suspected counterfeit cigarettes. Duty of around £2 million would be paid on a legitimate shipment of nine million cigarettes.

Mr. Cree said, "I would like to commend the UK Border Agency (UKBA) and HM Revenue & Customs for ensuring that these suspected counterfeit cigarettes were prevented from entering the supply chain in Northern Ireland.

"Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK. It is estimated to cause over 2,300 deaths in Northern Ireland each year. The purpose of increasing the price of cigarettes through increasing duty is to try to discourage smoking, particularly amongst the young.

"The revenue which would have been collected in this instance – a figure of about £2 million – could have seen tangible results in our public services. However, smuggling tobacco does not only undermine our public services. It also undermines law and order as the money earned is reinvested back into criminal enterprises which then feed and breed further criminality."