Black Country cigarette smuggler jailed for three years

Gulan Shaikh, aged 64, of Essington Road, Willenhall, was spotted using a mobile phone while driving in September 2014. Officers who searched his van found 16 boxes containing cigarettes and rolling tobacco.

The officers then searched his home, where over 57,000 cigarettes were stored in the garage. Altogether, it was estimated Shaikh's collection of cigarettes and tobacco totalled £102,180.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that Shaikh, who was also part of a £1 million tobacco smuggling plot back in 2004 which saw him jailed for 18 months, was released on bail prior to his case going to court, only to be caught again.

In January, he was seen carrying boxes into a property on Buckingham Drive in Willenhall which was being rented by a Nirmal Kainth.

Officers searched the property and found £60,994 worth of tobacco as well as cash in a bag. Kainth, 47, denied knowing that Shaikh was storing tobacco inside.

Shaikh and Kainth appeared in court charged with defrauding her majesty's customs, to which both pleaded guilty.

Kainth, whose role in the scheme was described as minimal, was given a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid community work, while Shaikh was given a three-year prison sentence.

Defence solicitor Gurdeep Garcha said Shaikh regretted the crime .

Judge Michael Challinor said: "You are a determined smuggler. It is a great shame that you have decided not to take the chances you have had."