Lancashire businessman jailed for smuggling 21m cigarettes
LANCASHIRE businessman Guy Simpson has been jailed for five and a half years for illegally importing 21.3m counterfeit cigarettes into Southampton Container Port.
Chorley-based Simpson – who is the former chief executive of Halesowen Town Football Club – was jailed following an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The 53-year-old pleaded guilty at Southampton Crown Court to fraudulently evading around £4.5m in revenue on the smuggled goods.
Simpson changed his plea to guilty on May 17, the first day of his trial.
The counterfeit Regal cigarettes, boxed and wrapped in brown paper packages, were crammed into two 40 foot containers that arrived by cargo vessel from China.
Officers counted 10.8m cigarettes in the first consignment and 10.5m in the second.
Import documents suggested the cargo was 16,800 exercise ‘gym balls’.
HM Revenue & Customs’ criminal investigators carried out extensive enquiries following the huge discovery by UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers on December 17, 2008.
Upon sentencing, His Honour Judge Ralls QC said: “It is apparent from the information that customs could uncover that you were deeply involved in this importation.
“You played a pivotal role and operated through your legitimate business as a front.
“Having regard to all factors and the sheer scale I sentence you to five and a half years.”
John Cooper, HMRC assistant director criminal investigation, said: “This was a blatant attempt to smuggle a massive quantity of counterfeit cigarettes into Southampton and onto the UK’s streets.
“Criminals, like Simpson, don’t care about undercutting honest retailers, depriving the UK of public funds or consider the real content of their cheap fake cigarettes.
“Smugglers only care about profit. We will continue to work closely with UKBA officers at the frontier to root out these criminals and disrupt criminal operations wherever possible.”
Confiscation of Simpson’s assets will be sought at a later date under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
