Smugglers abandon contraband cigarettes at Aldergrove

Smugglers have abandoned contraband cigarettes worth over £70,000 at Belfast International Airport following a bungled attempt to smuggle the load through Customs.

It is thought the cigarettes were left behind by a group who entered the airport after disembarking from an inbound flight from Gran Canaria. When the gang realised that all passengers from the flight were being questioned by Customs, they abandoned the load, which was concealed inside 22 pieces of luggage.

Customs and Excise described the find as “undoubtedly an organised attempt” to smuggle cigarettes into the province.

A spokesperson added: “Although we did not arrest anyone on this occasion, our intention is to disrupt any attempts to smuggle any commodity to Northern Ireland.

“This smuggling ring have not only lost the money outlaid to buy the cigarettes in the Canaries and the cost of their holiday, but have also lost a considerable amount of stock and the potential to make more money.

”No doubt these cigarettes would have ended up on sale to anyone who wanted to buy them including children, and the profits would have funded more crime.”

(CL)