A Newry man who smuggled six million cigarettes and half a tonne of hand rolling tobacco in rottinglettuce has been jailed for three years.
Lorry driver Martin Fitzpatrick, 28, was stopped by customs officers at Dover Docks in May 2008. He admitted the offence at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday, August 25.
The seizure comprised 610,000 Mayfair cigarettes, 960,000 Palace cigarettes, 4.2 million Respect cigarettes and 638.40 kgs of Domingo Azul hand rolling tobacco. The duty evaded was almost £1 million.