Pubdate: Sun, 27 Feb 20000 Source: Sunday Telegraph (UK) Copyright: Telegraph Group Limited 2000 Contact: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ Author: David Bamber CIGARETTE RING SMASHED Customs officers have broken a multi-million-pound smuggling ring and seized 22 million cigarettes bound for the black market. Eleven men were arrested near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Friday. Earlier in the week, officers discovered three containers packed with 18 million cigarettes at the Thamesport freight terminal at Dartford, Kent, and launched a surveillance operation. One of the containers, with six million cigarettes inside, was followed to a disused timber yard in the former mining town of Wath upon Dearne. Officers lying in wait rounded up 11 men, who were later released on bail. Many of the cigarettes were concealed in bed bases. Stewart Gardner, a senior Customs officer, said: "This is one of the largest ever seizures of contraband cigarettes in Britain and is worth UKP2 million in lost revenue. This money could have been spent on the health service or on schools, but would have lined the pockets of this criminal gang." A further 12 million cigarettes were found in the two containers in Kent. All were shipped from India via Dubai. Their paperwork claimed they held gypsum board for ceiling tiles. - --- MAP posted-by: Allan Wilkinson