Man fined €14,000 following contraband cigarettes discovery

A 59-year-old man has been slapped with a hefty fine and a suspended prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to charges relating to a discovery of 25,000 contraband cigarettes

The accused was charged with knowingly being in possession of the 125 boxes of cigarette packets, containing a total of 25,000 cigarettes and evading customs and excise duty, VAT and other taxes
The accused was charged with knowingly being in possession of the 125 boxes of cigarette packets, containing a total of 25,000 cigarettes and evading customs and excise duty, VAT and other taxes

A 59-year-old man from Santa Lucia has been slapped with a hefty fine and a suspended prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to charges relating to last Tuesday’s discovery of 25,000 contraband cigarettes in a Fgura garage, following a joint operation between police and customs.

Anthony Micallef appeared in the dock before magistrate Ian Farrugia today, charged with knowingly being in possession of the 125 boxes of cigarette packets, containing a total of 25,000 cigarettes and evading customs and excise duty, VAT and other taxes. He was also charged with offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Inspectors Rennie Stivala and Doriette Cuschieri, prosecuting, told the court that the total amount of tax evaded amounted to nearly €6,400.

Through his lawyer, Carm Mifsud Bonnici, Micallef pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, together with a fine of €14,000.

Micallef is believed to be filing an appeal against the sentence.