Driver caught with 30,000 smuggled cigs avoids prison

A DRIVER caught with 30,000 smuggled cigarettes in his car has been spared jail.

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Steven Karim was driving a Hyundai car on July 2 last year when he was pulled over by police on Farndale Road, Benwell, Newcastle.

Several large cardboard boxes were visible in the car, and Karim claimed he was taking items to Gateshead to help someone with a house move.

A search revealed the boxes contained cigarettes with foreign writing on and which had not had UK duty paid on them, having been smuggled in.

There were 30,000 Richmond cigarettes, 20,000 Lambert & Butler and 10,000 of another brand. The court heard the total duty evaded on them was £25,446.