Polish smugglers caught and jailed

delphiandomine 86 | 17823

29 May 2017 / #1

Smuggling from Poland to the UK has always been a problem due to the huge difference in taxation levels, and now yet another huge attempted import was stopped and seized. Two people tried to smuggle in 117,240 cigarettes - which should have had an astonishing £30,180 in tax paid. They tried to sneak in instead, and were caught by HM Customs and Revenue officers who are well aware of such scams.

eadt.co.uk/news/polish-cigarette-smugglers-jailed-after-stop-at-harwich-international-port-1-5036670

Fortunately, they were caught, and now one of them is facing a 10 month prison sentence while the other faces a 15 month prison sentence. The message will surely be getting through to these criminals - CRIME DOES NOT PAY IN THE UK. One can only wonder how many cigarettes were smuggled from Poland to the UK in the last 13 years.

jon357 73 | 22641

29 May 2017 / #2

This is a big thing. Aside from the lack of any quality control - these cigs could contain anything - it defrauds the public of the excise revenue:

A lorry driver caught smuggling 4.5 million illicit cigarettes into the UK hidden among a load of plasterboard has been jailed. Lucasz Walczak, 36, was investigated by HMRC after being stopped by Border Force officers at Eastern Docks in Dover.

kentonline.co.uk/dover/news/cigarette-smuggler-caught-red-handed-123588/

Counterfeit cigarettes are a big thing here too, many unfit for use.

WielkiPolak 54 | 988

29 May 2017 / #3

It's definitely getting more and more noticeable that every article you and your expat friends promote on here is either a negative one about Poland or Polish people or something positive about other cultures and how amazing they are and Poland should be accepting them in to the community.

I can't remember you ever post a link to something praising Polish culture, faith and tradition. Feel free to point me to these posts if you have.

jon357 73 | 22641

29 May 2017 / #4

Another case here, this one involving $9 million worth of countrfeit cigarettes produced in Poland and destined for illegal export:

Polish police, border guards and customs officers have smashed an international criminal gang producing and smuggling tobacco products to EU countries.

thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/292439,Poland-smashes-international-tobacco-smuggling-gang

All praise to the Polish Police. We should have faith in their initiatives to stop Polish counterfeit cigarette smuggling culture, which is something of a tradition.

dany_moussalli 13 | 259

31 May 2017 / #5

I remember when I was in London a friend of mine told me "look what i'm smoking" , his pack of cigarettes had the words "palenie zabija" , I was surprised, he told me " yeah, cigarettes are very expensive here in the UK, so I buy them from a local grocery store that has them smuggled from Poland"

mafketis 38 | 10843

31 May 2017 / #6

Smuggling from Poland to the UK has always been a problem due to the huge difference in taxation levels

You mean confiscatory and unjust British robbery taxes!

peter_olsztyn 6 | 1082

1 Jun 2017 / #7

cigarettes are very expensive here in the UK, so I buy them from a local grocery store that has them smuggled from Poland

You may politely advice him that cigs smuggled from Lithuania and Russia are even cheaper. They have "kurenie ubivaet" on the pack.

peter_olsztyn 6 | 1082

1 Jun 2017 / #8

One of ofenders name is Dariusz Kierencew another dangerous criminal with zorro mask is a woman hyhyhy :)

The message will surely be getting through to these criminals - CRIME DOES NOT PAY IN THE UK.

nie strasz, nie strasz bo się ...

dany_moussalli 13 | 259

1 Jun 2017 / #9

Do you have Polish passport?

Yes I do :) , how does this change anything ?

Ziemowit 14 | 4035

1 Jun 2017 / #10

One can only wonder how many cigarettes were smuggled from Poland to the UK in the last 13 years.

Not many as

CRIME DOES NOT PAY IN THE UK