The United Kingdom Border Force has seized more than 4.8 million illegal cigarettes and 405kg of rolling tobacco worth an estimated £2.59m in a four-day crackdown at Manchester Airport.
The Home Office disclosed this in a statement published on Monday.
The operation targeted “high-risk flights, baggage and passengers, leading to four arrests and the denial of entry to 23 people.
“Officers also seized 35kg of cannabis.”
In one case, “a passenger arriving on a flight from Dubai attempted to smuggle 100,000 cigarettes in six suitcases.”
The Home Office said smugglers used “concealment methods, including modified pillows and suitcases with false bottoms, while specialist detector dogs assisted officers during the operation.”
It added that 26 people had been referred for further investigation following the crackdown.
The department said “smugglers could face up to seven years in prison and airline bans, while foreign nationals could be denied entry and have their Electronic Travel Authorisations cancelled.”
Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Jo White, said, “Tobacco smuggling is not just about a cut-price packet of cigarettes. It undercuts honest businesses and lines the pockets of organised criminals.
“Those who think they can profit from smuggling illegal cigarettes into Britain should think again. You will be caught, prosecuted, and put behind bars.”
The Home Office said Border Force and HM Revenue and Customs seized 1.9 billion illicit cigarettes in the previous year, resulting in 201 arrests, 134 charges and 83 convictions.
It added that retailers caught selling illegal cigarettes could face fines of up to £10,000, while penalties imposed in the previous year exceeded £2m.
Adam Knight, Head of Border Force’s National Threat Response Team, said, “Our officers work day in, day out to stop illegal cigarettes reaching Britain’s streets.
“Operations like this stop smugglers in their tracks and give us the intelligence to hunt down the criminal networks behind them.
“Criminals change their tactics, and so do we. Try to undermine our border and we will come after you.”