Three million cigarettes seized at port

The officers searched the trailer after it had been driven off a ferry from Dieppe on September 13.

A search of the trailer revealed about 3 million GB brand cigarettes hidden amongst the 20 pallets of sheets of timber. The revenue evaded on the goods was about 538,000.

A 32-year-old lorry driver from Staffordshire, who had arrived at the port to collect a trailer, was arrested, interviewed and subsequently released on bail pending further enquiries.

Bob Gaiger, HM Revenue & Customs spokesman in the South said: 'Customs take a very serious view of cigarette and tobacco smuggling. It is not a harmless tax fiddle. This type of activity harms honest businesses and costs the UK billions of pounds in lost revenue that ends up lining the pockets of criminals instead of funding vital public services.'