Tobacco Smuggling (Hansard, 10 April 2002)

§ Mr. Lazarowicz
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officers are allocated by Customs and Excise to control the entry of contraband tobacco into the UK. [46271]

§ Mr. Boateng
The Law Enforcement arm of Customs comprises just under 7,500 staff, divided primarily between Detection, Intelligence and Investigation units. Many staff, particularly those in Detection, are multi-functional, working across the broad range of Customs responsibilities including tackling indirect tax fraud, the supply of Class A drugs and other import/export prohibitions and restrictions.
247W
In March 2000, the Government published the "Tackling Tobacco Smuggling" strategy. This strategy included funding for an additional 955 Customs officers throughout the UK. This represented a broad doubling of Customs resource dedicated to tackling tobacco smuggling.

§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rate of growth of tobacco smuggling in 2000–01 was. [47692]

§ Mr. Boateng
The estimated number of cigarettes smuggled in 1999–2000 and 2000–01 can be found in the xvi report by the Comptroller and Auditor General—Departments of the Chancellor of the Exchequer: HM Customs and Excise Appropriation Accounts 2000–01, paragraph 5.31.

§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the level of smuggling in 2002–03, as shown by illicit market share, will be reduced. [47694]

§ Mr. Boateng
The "Tackling Smuggling" strategy published in March 2000 set out targets for the illicit market share of smuggled cigarettes. These targets have been incorporated into a PSA target for Customs. For 2002–03, the aim is for the illicit market share of smuggled cigarettes to be 21 per cent. or less.
Information about the achievement of this PSA target will be published in Customs annual report for 2002–03.

§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the measurable effects in the financial year 2001–02 of HM Customs and Excise targeting the organisers of tobacco smuggling. [47682]

§ Mr. Boateng
The "Tackling Tobacco Smuggling" strategy published in March 2000 set out targets for the number of smuggling gangs Customs aim to break up or disrupt. These targets have been incorporated into a PSA target for Customs. For 2001–02, the aim is for Customs to break up or disrupt at least 55 tobacco smuggling gangs.
Information about the achievement of this PSA target will be published in Customs annual report for 2001–02.

§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increases in the inland activity of HM Customs and Excise took place in 2001–02 to tackle tobacco smuggling. [47669]

§ Mr. Boateng
As part of the "Tackling Tobacco Smuggling" strategy published in March 2000, Customs have developed a comprehensive approach to tackle all aspects of the tobacco smuggling problem.
Customs approach inland is to carefully plan and target their activities to inflict maximum disruption to the illicit inland distribution networks for smuggled tobacco.
Customs have also introduced new penalties and sanctions designed to disrupt inland supplies of smuggled tobacco. For example, in July 2001, Customs introduced a system for prominent marks to be placed on packs of cigarettes and tobacco indicating UK duty has been paid. This measure makes smuggled cigarettes very easy to 248W identify and provides sanctions designed to hit those who sell smuggled tobacco or allow their premises to be used for selling.