Profits made from this criminal activity were substantial and used to purchase luxury items

Custom and Excise spokesman

The three men and a woman - all from the Wrexham area - pleaded guilty to their involvement in the bootleg operation.

The arrests followed a three month surveillance by Customs and Excise which found cigarettes were being smuggled from Greece and imported into the UK in lorries.

As a result of the investigations a further 16 arrests were made internationally, 13.8 tonnes of hand rolling tobacco and 26 lorries have been seized.

Customs officers have said that six illegal immigrants were found hidden in a UK-bound lorry, as a result of the inquiries.

A customs spokesman said: "Profits made from this criminal activity were substantial and used to purchase luxury items, foreign travel and property, and flamboyant life-style."

The four defendants appeared at Mold Crown Court

Five people were due to go on trial at Mold Crown Court on conspiracy charges but on Monday four of the five defendants pleaded guilty to their part in the operation.

All charges against fifth defendant 27-year-old Michelle Jones from Heol Offa, Johnstown, were dropped.

Defendants Frederick Roberts, 32, from Campbell Street in Rhos, and Stephen Vernon, 43, from Mawddwy Avenue, Wrexham, admitted they conspired together and with others to evade excise duty on tobacco products.

Robert Pritchard, 31, from Cristionydd in Penycae near Wrexham, admitted dealing in tobacco goods with intent to defraud.

Pleaded guilty

His barrister said that he pleaded guilty on the basis that he did not know that there was cash inside a tyre when he helped fit it.

Angela Edwards aged 30 from Heol Offa, Johnstown near Wrexham, admitted dealing in tobacco products with intent to defraud.

The prosecution offered no evidence against Pritchard, Edwards and Jones on the main conspiracy charge.

They also offered no evidence against all five on a separate charge of conspiring to launder money, from the sale of tobacco products.

The four defendants are due to be sentenced at Mold Crown Court on 14 March.

Judge Stephen Clarke warned all sentencing options would remain open including custody

However he said the defendants would receive credit for their guilty pleas.