Gangs such as the Fosters, though, are small fish compared with the organised smuggling gangs whose numbers have grown along with the recent rises in cigarette tax - Britain has one of the highest cigarette prices in Europe. With nearly 1,000 more customs officers now working on the ground, organised criminals are coming under increasing pressure and the introduction of duty paid marks on legal packs means that smuggled cigarettes are getting easier for everyone to spot. The main method of smuggling into Britain is in sea containers which usually start their journey in the far east. As customs and excise clamp down on smuggling, the methods of hiding cigarettes become more imaginative. Recent shipments have been found inside laminate doors, in cases ostensibly containing micro-scooters and in catering size tins of mushrooms.
New scanners are now in operation across the country.
Keith Nugus, anti-smuggling manager at Southampton docks, said the new scanner was a deterrent. Before Christmas it was two to three a week. We have found a many as 10.5m cigarettes in one container. When the opposition are going to the extent of especially fabricating door panels, it's quite an operation. There is usually around half a million pound profit to be made on a container load of cigarettes.