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Article: CHILDREN AGED 5 SMUGGLE TOBACCO; New ploy to beat customs by ferry contraband gangs.
- Article from:
- The Evening Standard (London, England)
- Article date:
- May 4, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: DAVID WILLIAMS
CHILDREN as young as five are being used by ruthless cross-Channel smugglers.
The youngsters think they are on an innocent day out but are in fact carrying contraband tobacco in their backpacks.
Customs and Excise officials today described the trade as a "sickening development".
Around 10 children a day are being intercepted but it is believed dozens more are daily being used as "mules" by smugglers trying to evade strict new security measures at ports. Customs are on high alert for the busy Bank Holiday weekend as smugglers mingle with holidaymakers travelling to and from the Continent by ferry from ports such ...