Serial cigarette smuggler jailed
20.01.08
A man who was caught smuggling cigarettes three times in a matter of weeks, each time using the same flight, was jailed late last week. Daniel McCartney, 60, from St Eithne's Park, Londonderry, was jailed for 4 months on Friday after Customs officers picked him up 3 times coming off the same flight at Belfast International Airport.
McCartney was first arrested on December 21, 2006 when he came off a flight from Lanzarote with almost 40,000 cigarettes. He took the same route and was caught again exactly 3 weeks later, this time with more than 50,000 cigarettes and £1600 in cash. Then on March 29, 2007 - 3 months after his first arrest - he was caught again coming off the Lanzarote flight.
This third time he noticed Customs officers at the airport and tried to abandon his luggage. But the officers challenged him and he admitted the luggage - containing more than 30,000 cigarettes - was his. A follow-up search of his home yielded another 3760 cigarettes and £2254 in cash.
Customs officials said McCartney had tried to evade duty of £23,000. On Friday the unemployed man forfeited the cash and was sentenced to 4 months in prison at Antrim Crown Court.
Sentencing him, Judge David Smith said that he had to prevent him from re-offending and discourage others. He said that after consideration the only way this could be achieved was by a period of custody. McCartney, who pleaded guilty to smuggling charges last November, will also be on probation for 2 years after his release.
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book belfast airport hotels or belfast airport parking at the lowest price click on these links to belfast airport parking and belfast airport hotels price comparison pages.
