Ryanair staff 'caught smuggling £6,000 worth of cigarettes in luggage'
Rex
Two Ryanair employees have been arrested on suspicion of smuggling £6,000 worth of cigarettes through customs at Liverpool John Lennon Airport on Monday.
Border Force officers found 13,800 cigarettes in luggage allegedly belonging to Gemma Phillips and Adam McEvatt, who both work for Ryanair, but were off-duty at the time.
Ms Huyton and Mr Mcevatt, both from Merseyside, had arrived in Liverpool on a flight from the Canary Islands, and have been charged with evasion of excise duty of £6,000.
Travellers in the EU are restricted to 800 cigarettes person, and duty must be paid on bigger amounts.
A spokeswoman for Border Force told Click Liverpool: "Two individuals travelling from the Canary Islands carrying excess cigarettes were stopped at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
"They were arrested on suspicion of being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of excise duty.
"They have since been charged and bailed to return to court on 17 September.
"Tobacco smuggling is serious and increases the tax burden on everyone else. Revenue from cigarettes and tobacco helps fund public services."
A spokesman for Ryanair told The Irish Times: "As this alleged incident is the subject of a criminal investigation, we are not in a position to comment, other than to note that the individuals in question were off duty at the time of these alleged offences."
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