pensioner who was caught smuggling nearly 50,000 cigarettes into Scotland has been ordered to cough up nearly £10,000. James Thomson, 70, was busted carrying 47,200 cigarettes through the duty free at Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
He was previously spared jail over the fraud, after admitting avoiding paying the £15,426.93 duty due on the smokes. Prosecutors began Proceeds of Crime proceedings against him in a bid to recover his crime profits.
And at Ayr Sheriff Court yesterday, Sheriff Mungo Bovey QC ordered that £9,500 be seized from Thomson by granting a Confiscation Order for the sum.
Prosecutors had been seeking around £15,000, but agreed to the reduced figure being seized following nearly two years of discussions.
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk