Husband and wife cigarette smugglers jailed (From Haringey Independent)

Husband and wife cigarette smugglers jailed

9:24am Tuesday 7th July 2009 in

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A HUSBAND and wife team of cigarette smugglers and their partners who imported more than 15 million fake cigarettes have been jailed.

Wei He Guan, 39, and his wife Qing Ping Xye, 37, of Effingham Road, Harringay, played a pivotal role in one of the UK's biggest cigarette smuggling operations.

The gang used the fast parcel system to help transport their smuggled goods and over 14 months shifted more than 15 million fake cigarettes and 2.5 tonnes of hand rolling tobacco from China.

The fake tobacco could contain unknown substances and toxic chemicals leading putting those who used them at risk.

Raids at docks in Southampton in 2007 found 336,000 cigarettes in boxes marked as chairs.

Guan and Wood Green resident Hui Qing Chen, 38, were the principal organisers, Wood Green Crown Court heard.

Chen, of of Alice Court, Douglas Road,and Guan were responsible for sourcing and importing the tobacco from China and planned their distribution in the UK by recruiting couriers.

Chen would also stop postal delivery staff to intercept the parcels being sent illegally to legitimate addresses.

Guan's wife Xye would receive deliveries from couriers and was seen unloading huge packages from vans and taking them inside her Effingham Road home.

The gang of four appeared at Wood Green Crown Court, in Lordship Lane, yesterday for sentencing.

Guan, 39, was jailed for four years, his wife was sentenced to 18 months and Chen was given three years.

One of their key couriers Zhi Qiang Weng, 34, of East Ham, was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Eddie Jones, Assistant Director for Criminal Investigation for HMRC, said: “This was a well planned and executed smuggling operation on an international scale. This type of serious organised crime has a devastating impact on local communities and the nation’s economy.

"These smuggled tobacco products were all counterfeit and as with any fake product those buying them are potentially taking a serious health risk."