Customs spies take on smugglers

CUSTOMS agents are to operate undercover in the jungles of South East Asia to crack down on the smuggling of counterfeit brand cigarettes into Britain.

The decision to step up the Government's war against tobacco criminals has been prompted by a surge in smuggling. More than four billion fake brand cigarettes made in illegal factories are costing the Treasury over £1bn a year in lost taxes.

Customs agents will be sent to countries suspected of being most involved. The aim is to track and disrupt supply routes back to the UK. An announcement of the new crackdown is expected next month.

About 13.5bn cigarettes were smuggled into Britain last year and about 40% of these were counterfeit brands, according to industry sources.

Gangs in China, South East Asia, eastern Europe and Russia make huge profits smuggling counterfeit brand cigarettes.

With taxes on tobacco in the UK among the highest in the world, there is a ready market for cut-price cigarettes.