Smuggling cigarettes into the UK is big business

In one, a disused chicken shed at Hemyock, near Cullompton, Devon, 90,000 cigarettes were seized by customs officers in 2001.

Exeter Crown Court was told they were part of an estimated 3.8 million cigarettes and 1.4 tonnes of rolling tobacco smuggled in at a loss of �650,000 in duty.

Consignments were also delivered to addresses in Exeter, Kingswood and Bedminster, Bristol, and Culmhead Business Park near Taunton.

Subsidiary roles

Three members of the same family appeared at the court for sentence, having earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cheat Customs and Excise of duty payable on imported goods.

Peter O'Keefe, 33, of Galmington Drive, Taunton, Somerset, was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment.

Brothers Carl O'Keefe, 23, of Galmington Road, Taunton, and 28-year-old Steven, of the same address, were each ordered to carry out a 200 hour community punishment order.

Judge John Neligan said it was accepted none of the defendants were the organisers of the scheme, but played subsidiary roles.

'Leg man'

He said he sentenced Peter O'Keefe on the basis that he was employed to oversee the receipt of consignments of cigarettes on behalf of others further up the chain.

The defendant admitted receiving �7,000 over the seven months of the conspiracy.

Steven O'Keefe picked up and transported consignments of smuggled cigarettes, and made up to �500.

Carl O'Keefe, said the judge, took delivery of six consignments over a three week period at their end of the conspiracy.