A lorry driver has been jailed for two and a half years after he smuggled 7.9 million cigarettes into the UK disguised as a shipment of tissues.

Border officials at Dover stopped 40-year-old Artur Staniszczak, of Skwierzyna, Poland, on Monday, July 17, and found he had Richmond Blue branded cigarettes instead of the tissues he was supposed to be carrying.

They also found the paperwork he was carrying, which said he was travelling with tissues, was fake.

The case was referred to HMRC for criminal investigation which found Staniszczak tried to evade more than £2 million in excise duty.

Assistant director of HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service Tim Clarke said: "This lorry contained nothing but boxes of smuggled cigarettes.

"Staniszczak hoped that false import documents would prevent the illegal load being discovered, but he’s now paying the price with a prison sentence.

"HMRC continues to work with Border Force and other agencies to reduce the availability of
illicit tobacco, which costs the UK around £2.4 billion a year and rips-off legitimate
businesses.

"We encourage anyone with information regarding the smuggling, storage or
sale of illegal cigarettes and tobacco to contact our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887."

"Your role, in my judgement, was clearly a significant role" - Judge Jeremy Carey

He appeared at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to the fraudulent evasion of excise duty and was jailed for two and a half years, of which 15 months must be served in custody.

Upon sentencing Judge Jeremy Carey said: "You acted out of character by doing something criminal.

"Your role, in my judgement, was clearly a significant role."