Five men have been ordered to pay back money made from illegally smuggling cigarettes into the UK.
The men, from addresses in Darlaston, Rugeley, Willenhall, Norton Canes and Bloxwich, across the West Midlands, were ordered to pay back a total of £107,652 at Wolverhampton Crown Court. All were sentenced in March 2007 for their parts in the criminal organisation.
In September 2005 HMR&C discovered the operation, seizing a total of 958,120 cigarettes. It is believed that the amount of duty & VAT evaded totalled £172,157.04.
West Midlands Regional Asset Recovery Team (RART) followed this with an application to seize the proceeds of crime, resulting in the court order. Four of the men have six months and one three months to pay back the money or face extra time in prison.
Det Insp Andy Bannister, Head of the Midland RART, said: "The Midland RART is ensuring that crime does not pay. This was criminal conduct and is an affront to the hardworking people who earn money legally, pay taxes and play by the rules in our society.
“Our experience with many criminal gangs shows that one day this type of criminal may make money out of illegal cigarette importation, another day illegal drugs. We will use Proceeds of Crime Act legislation wherever possible to prevent the money being re-circulated, enjoyed or reinvested in criminal enterprises "
Since April the Midland RART has achieved orders totalling in the region of £3 Million.
Anyone with information on persons engaged in crime or those living off the proceeds of others criminal conduct can contact West Midlands Police on 0845 113 5000 or anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111