HMRC unearths seven tonnes of tobacco inside potato sacks

Investigators have seized nearly seven tonnes of illegal tobacco after a raid at a farm in Warwickshire.

Around 20 officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) found 6.97 tonnes of tobacco, worth more than £2 million in evaded duty, inside potato bags at two rented agricultural buildings in Bedworth, near Coventry.

The buildings were lined with black sheet plastic and were being used to process and cut hand rolling tobacco, without the landlord’s knowledge.

Officers also discovered counterfeit packaging, a cutting machine and more than 10,000 cigarettes, which were all seized in the raid last month.