A MAN has been fined £500 after he attempted to smuggle 2,400 cigarettes and more than 50 kilos of tobacco through Prestwick Airport.
Matthew Gibb, 62, of Altonhill Avenue, Kilmarnock tried to bring in the goods on two occasions in January and February 2018.
He was initially stopped by Border Force officers on January 17, 2018 after returning from Alicante, Spain, with 25 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco and 1,200 cigarettes.
Gibb had a further 26.9 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco and 1,200 cigarettes seized on February 2 2018 after another short trip via Alicante.
He was arrested and charged by HMRC officers in relation to both offences on February 2, 2018 and pleaded guilty to £10,000 excise duty fraud at Ayr Sheriff Court on September 9 this year.
He was fined £500 at Ayr Sheriff Court on Thursday, December 5.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here