UK Border Agency officers had a surprise when they stopped a bus containing nearly 80 people at Dover docks - they found they were all involved in smuggling!

The vehicle contained almost a third of a ton of tobacco, with each passenger having three kilos. But they will not be prosecuted, it has been revealed.

Officials said the 79 smugglers, who were from Leicester, had more than £20,000 worth of hand rolling tobacco with them when they were stopped.

Each one was carrying three kilos of tobacco, and a further 82kg was found stashed on the bus when they were stopped at 2.50pm last Tuesday.

In a statement, UK Border Agency said: "Passengers travelling back to the UK from a European Union country are allowed to bring back an unlimited amount of tobacco as long as it is for personal consumption and not commercial gain.

"In this case, the tobacco was confiscated due to the strong evidence it was being brought into the UK as part of an organised attempt to avoid paying duty.

"The seizure has deprived the coach party of more than £20,000 - the estimated cost of the tobacco - in addition to the profit the gang might have made selling it on the UK black market.

"If the coach smugglers had been successful in their attempt, the Treasury would have lost more than £35,000 in unpaid excise duty.

"A decision was taken not to prosecute the 79 members of the coach party.
"However, the names of anyone who tries to smuggle tobacco into the UK are added to UK Border Agency's watch lists.

"These alert border officers when smugglers make future journeys in and out of the country."

Carole Upshall, UK Border Agency regional director for ports across the south of England, said: "It is perfectly legitimate to shop in Europe and bring back tobacco for yourself. However, anyone who smuggles tobacco for commercial gain is effectively stealing from the public purse and from law-abiding taxpayers."