SECRET WORLD OF THE SMUGGLER

SMUGGLING | Inside Out enters the world of tobacco smuggling

Inside Out delves into the murky world of the "Black Economy" as they follow "Joe"and "Martin" on a smugglers' run. They cross the channel several times a week, buying tobacco for resale in Britain.

Smugglers on this level are not rich people, they make £200 per month from their shady dealings.

They are hard to spot because they do not bring much contraband in at a time.

Are these people modern day Robin Hoods, or a drain on the UK economy?

How does the "black economy" work?

• More contraband alcohol and tobacco passes through the Port of Dover than anywhere else in the UK

• A day trip ticket to France from Dover can cost as little as £1

• You can bring back as much tobacco and alcohol as you can carry, providing of course, it is for your own personal use

• It is selling it on at a profit that is illegal

Martin's motto is to smuggle small amounts as often as he can

Inside Out reporter Paul Ross asks Martin about his plans, “When are you next going over to France or to Belgium to bring back some tobacco?”

“Tomorrow. I’m going over tomorrow," replies Martin.

"And what kind of amount will you be coming back with?" asks reporter Paul Ross.

"Sixty pouches of tobacco," says Martin.

"And is that the kind of amount that would not get you noticed?" Paul quizzes.

"That’s right," says Martin.

Martin states that his motto is, "smuggle small amounts as often you can."

He says that he has even used his girlfriend as "an additional pair of hands."

The smuggling run

Smugglers earn around £1 per pouch of tobacco

Reporter Paul Ross asks Martin if Inside Out can follow him on an actual smuggling run.

Before he will agree, Martin wants Paul Ross to meet his business partner, Joe.

They meet at the aptly named Smugglers Bay just round the corner from Dover harbour.

Joe says, "I buy a pouch of tobacco for £2.50, I pass it on to another bloke for £3.50, he sells it on to members of the public for £4.50.

"So each of us actually make £1 profit. The member of the public buying it saves £5.10.

“Now we all know Tony Blair does not smoke roll ups, it's the poor, it's the working poor.

"Now, if I can put £5 in a poor man’s pocket, I believe it is reminiscent of Robin Hood and I am quite proud to be helping poor people."

Smuggler's fears

Reporter Paul asks Martin about the worst part of a smuggling trip. Martin replies, "When you come back to Britain."

The return trip is the phase of maximum risk. Will the smuggler get through? Would Customs and Excise stop them?

It all comes down to that five, 10 seconds going through the Green Channel. If they stop a smuggler, what are they going to ask?

That must be the most stressful point.

Ironically, it is the British public who fund Martin and Joe’s smuggling business.

The cash to buy the tobacco comes out of the fortnightly dole cheque.

Reporter Paul Ross confronts Martin, "You are signing on, you are part of the 'black economy' because you are smuggling tobacco. Are you a sponger?"

"No," replies Martin, "Put a job in front of me and I will do it. They cannot find a job for me."

A UK customs perspective

For Martin and Joe the biggest single threat to their smuggling enterprise is Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise.

Graham Hooker is the man in charge of clamping down on the likes of Martin and Joe. He is head of Customs and Excise in the South East.

Graham says, "There are people who will organise the unemployed and old age pensioners.

"They give them a day out for £40 but they say in return for £40 we want you to bring back these carrier bags or suitcases of cigarettes.

"And it is a slippery slope, I think, to start breaking the law in a number of areas.

Naheed Mehmon, an Economist at Brighton University adds, "On top of that, the more smugglers you have, the more damaging it is to the economy.

"The government collects less tax so the rest of us suffer because we suffer a loss in social security benefits, schools, hospitals etc."

The Belgian connection

On arrival in Calais, the next step of the smuggling run is to catch a free bus that waits outside the terminal. Destination - Belgium.

Why Belgium? Tobacco is 30% cheaper in Belgium so a thriving industry has sprung up right on the border selling everything from cheap cigarettes and spirits to rock bottom priced washing powder.

Once a quiet, rural hamlet, Adinkerke, on the Belgium coast is now tobacco alley. Open seven days a week, 18 hours a day.

Lesley Gill says she will sell anything from her Belgian shop

Lesley Gill runs one of Adinkerke’s 37 tobacco shops.

A Liverpudlian by birth, she will sell anything from Persil washing powder to Golden Virginia tobacco. Her shop shifts goods by the pallet load.

Inside Out reporter Paul Ross asks Lesley, "What is the most anyone has ever bought off you, one person, where you thought, ‘you are taking the mickey with that’?"

"One man comes over once a fortnight and spends £15,000 on Golden Virginia tobacco," she replies.

Home and dry?

Taking the goods back into the UK is not illegal. You can take as much or as little as you like and that is EU law.

Paul asks smuggler Martin, how many times a week on average would he hope to come over and take this risk.

"Oh, it is a risk, yeah. Three, four times a week."

"Ok, and when will you sign on again?" asks Paul.

"Tomorrow," says Martin.

"So, you are signing on. You are taking the taxpayers money, but you are not paying tax in the UK. Do you feel guilty Martin?" Paul continues.

"No. They cannot find me a job in Dover," Martin replies.

Martin leaves to begin his return journey from Belgium to the UK.

UK Customs could confiscate Martin's tobacco if they suspect it is not for his own personal use. If the tobacco is confiscated he waves goodbye to £150.

However, this time he slips through.