The UK and China have signed an agreement to tackle international smuggling and the organised criminal groups who operate in direct contravention of customs laws.
The arrangement establishes a new mechanism for closer working between HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and General Administration of Chinese Customs (GACC) – and will include regular information sharing in the fight against Customs fraud, particularly non-duty paid tobacco products smuggled by organised criminals into the UK.
HMRC Director of Risk and Intelligence Service, Vicky Ranson, said:
“Tobacco fraud costs the UK government around £2 billion a year in lost revenue – money that could be used on vital public services.
“Through this new arrangement, our governments can share important information more regularly and easily, to better help jointly identify and target organised criminal gangs producing counterfeit tobacco products and illicitly distributing these throughout the UK.
“This undermines legitimate businesses and we are determined to clamp down on it.”
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