A lorry driver who tried to smuggle 1.3 tonnes of tobacco into the UK is now behind bars.

Valentin Atanasov, 45, of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, was stopped at the Port of Dover on February 7,

2018 and a Border Force sniffer dog found his legitimate lorry load of polythene bags also

contained 1.3 tonnes of The Turner hand rolling tobacco, worth £286,428 in unpaid duty.

An investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) found the lorry’s tachograph revealed that he had made an unauthorised stop at an industrial estate in Luxembourg to pick up the tobacco.

Atanasov pleaded guilty at Maidstone Magistrates Court on Monday, July 30, and was jailed for two years and three months.

Cash of €2,200 was seized and an application for it to forfeited under the Proceeds of Crime

Act will now be made.

Tom Hunnisett, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “Tobacco smuggling undermines legitimate businesses who play by the rules and costs the UK around £2.5 billion a year, money that could be used to fund vital public services.

“We encourage anyone with information regarding the smuggling, storage or sale of illegal tobacco to report it to HMRC online, or contact our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”

Paul Morgan, Director of Border Force South East and Europe said: “This was a significant seizure.

"By stopping the shipment our officers have starved those responsible of the proceeds of their criminality.

“The black market cheats honest traders and it is effectively stealing from the public purse.

"People tempted by cheap cigarettes and tobacco should think again.”