Illegal tobacco found inside potato sacks in Bedworth
- Published
Officers from HM Revenue and Customs found 6.97 tonnes of tobacco inside potato bags
Nearly seven tonnes of illegal tobacco found disguised inside potato sacks has been seized following a raid on a farm.
The tobacco, worth more than £2m in evaded duty, was found at two rented buildings in Bedworth, Warwickshire, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said.
The buildings were being used to process and cut hand rolling tobacco, without the landlord's knowledge.
More than 10,000 cigarettes, a cutting machine and counterfeit packaging were also found and seized.
The buildings were lined with black sheet plastic
No arrests have been made and inquiries are ongoing following the raid on 12 July.
Richard Paris, assistant director of the HMRC fraud investigation service, said: "Tobacco fraud costs the UK £2.5 billion a year in lost tax, money that should be funding vital public services in the UK.
"This is theft from the taxpayer and it undermines legitimate traders."
The buildings were being used to process and cut hand rolling tobacco, without the landlord's knowledge