A man from Gairloch in the Highlands has been jailed following a major investigation into a £41 million cigarette smuggling operation uncovered by HM Revenue and Customs.
Carl Coxon, 65, was sentenced to one year and 10 months in prison at Manchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to money laundering offences linked to the illegal trade.
The case forms part of a wider prosecution that saw 11 men sentenced for their roles in a large scale organised crime group responsible for smuggling more than 150 million cigarettes into the UK.
The operation, based in England, evaded over £41 million in tax and excise duty, making it one of the more significant tobacco fraud cases uncovered in recent years.
Coxon’s role within the group was as a cash courier, moving money connected to the supply of illegal tobacco as the network carried out deliveries and exchanges across multiple locations.
Investigators from HMRC carried out an extensive surveillance operation between August 2017 and April 2018, tracking movements, recording conversations and building a detailed picture of how the group operated.
During that time, officers seized more than 2.5 million cigarettes along with close to £1 million in cash during planned vehicle stops.
The gang operated from business premises in Lancashire and Staffordshire, using a system of deliveries, van swaps and handovers of boxes and bags to move large quantities of illegal goods across the country.
Evidence presented in court showed that at least 15 deliveries took place between October 2017 and February 2018, forming the basis of the case that led to convictions across the group.
All 11 men eventually pleaded guilty to their involvement during court proceedings held between 2023 and 2025.
Five members of the group received immediate prison sentences of more than 10 years, while others were handed suspended sentences depending on their level of involvement.
Coxon’s sentence reflects his role in handling the financial side of the operation rather than leading it, but the court made clear that participation in such organised activity carries serious consequences.
The case underlines the scale and sophistication of illegal tobacco networks, which not only undermine legitimate businesses but also cost the public purse tens of millions of pounds.
It also highlights the reach of organised crime, stretching from urban centres in England to individuals based in remote communities in the Highlands.
