Almost five million illegal cigarettes seized in four-day airport crackdown

Border Force officers have seized almost five million illegal cigarettes in just four days at Manchester Airport, in a crackdown aimed at stopping smuggled tobacco reaching the country's high streets.

The operation netted 4,884,001 cigarettes and 405kg of rolling tobacco, with an estimated street value of £2.59 million. Officers also seized 35kg of cannabis, made four arrests and refused entry to 23 people.

Pillows and false bottoms

Officers targeted high-risk flights, baggage and passengers, with specialist detector dogs working alongside them. Smugglers tried everything from modified pillows to suitcases with false bottoms to sneak cigarettes through.

In one case, a smuggler was caught trying to bring in 100,000 cigarettes packed into six suitcases on a flight from Dubai.

Smugglers can now face up to seven years in prison and bans from airlines. Twenty-six people have been referred for further investigation, and where benefit claimants are involved, the Department for Work and Pensions will investigate and could stop their benefits if fraud is found. Foreign nationals involved will be refused entry and have their electronic travel authorisations cancelled.

"You will be caught"

Jo White, the Minister for Migration and Citizenship, said: "Tobacco smuggling is not just about a cut-price packet of cigarettes. It undercuts honest businesses and lines the pockets of organised criminals."

"Those who think they can profit from smuggling illegal cigarettes into Britain should think again. You will be caught, prosecuted, and put behind bars."

Adam Knight, head of Border Force's National Threat Response Team, said: "Operations like this stop smugglers in their tracks and give us the intelligence to hunt down the criminal networks behind them. Criminals change their tactics, and so do we."

From the border to the high street

The seized cigarettes and tobacco will be destroyed. The operation is part of Border Force's year-round work against cigarette smuggling. Last year, Border Force and HMRC seized 1.9 billion illicit cigarettes, leading to 201 arrests, 134 charges and 83 convictions.

Border Force works with HMRC, the National Crime Agency, Trading Standards and councils to tackle the trade all the way from the airport to the shop counter. Retailers caught selling illegal cigarettes can be fined up to £10,000, and penalties last year came to more than £2 million.

Why it matters for Birmingham's high streets

Illegal cigarettes are made outside the regulated market, so there is no guarantee of what they contain or whether they meet safety standards. They also undercut shopkeepers who play by the rules. Trading Standards and councils are among the partners Border Force works with, so cutting off supply at airports supports the work against illegal sales on local high streets.

Anyone who knows of illegal cigarettes or tobacco being sold in their area can report it to Trading Standards.