Bootlegger on money-laundering charges

Kevin  Roe (40), of Laughton Road, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court to ten months in prison, suspended for two years, plus supervision for 12 months and 100 hours unpaid work.

The three money laundering counts related to:

• Possession of illegal cigarettes  Sambuca liqueur on which duty had not been paid.
• Possessiony money obtained via rent not declared to Customs.  
• Cash obtained through illegal sale of cigarettes and alcohol.

A confiscation investigation has now commenced with regard to the proceeds of crime.

Det Sgt Rob Platts said: “The police are satisfied with the sentence imposed and strongly advise any people involved in this criminality to stop what they are doing or wait for the knock at the door.

“People often turn a blind eye to this type of crime as they think they can get a bargain with cheap cigarettes.

“However, as well as having a detrimental effect on the tobacco industry, there may be major health implications of people smoking cigarettes that are possibly twice as strong as legal products and also contain substances/chemicals that could be extremely harmful.”