Van stuffed with 360,000 illegal cigarettes snared by cops on M74 near Glasgow

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Vauxhall van stuffed with more than 360,000 illegal cigarettes has been discovered by police on a busy Scots motorway. Officers pulled the vehicle over on the M74 near junction 8 at Canderside Toll on Thursday, October 13, after receiving intelligence about alleged counterfeit goods.

A picture released by Police Scotland shows the back of the white motor filled to the brim with large cardboard boxes containing the ‘Platinum’ cigarettes.

The illicit goods have a tobacco tax duty worth an estimated £160,106 and have since been seized. The male driver, 42, has since been arrested and charged in connection with offences under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 1.55pm on Thursday, 13 October, 2022, Road Policing Officers carried out an intelligence-led stop of a white Vauxhall Vivaro van on the M74, near junction 8 at Canderside Toll.“A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of approximately 360,000 counterfeit cigarettes.“The driver – a 42-year-old man – was arrested and charged in connection with the recovery.

The matter has been passed to HM Revenue and Customs.” Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here . Scots couple's horror as they watch new car burn to a crisp on Facebook Terrified resident scared to leave his own home as gang of youths wreak havoc in Scots flat block Woman's body found in Aberdeenshire as police launch probe into 'unexplained' death