On 17th March 2017 Customs Officers engaged in Operation Bayview, an ongoing anti-smuggling Tobacco Operation targeting the Eastside, kept surveillance of a residential address in Glacis Estate that was suspected of being used for the illegal storage, and subsequent distribution, of cigarettes  smuggled from the area of eastern beach.

At approximately 9pm Officers noticed suspicious movements in the area of the dwelling and deployed mobile patrol units.

A search of the immediate area surrounding the suspect address resulted in the location of a vehicle loaded with 200 cartons of cigarettes with a retail value of £4000.

Officers proceeded to the residential address from where the cigarettes had been seen to be originating. The tenant, a local male in his late twenties, was cautioned and arrested for the illegal possession and storage of the cigarettes.

A search of the premises produced a further 1300 cartons of cigarettes with a retail value of approximately £26,000.

Investigations are ongoing and HM Customs have not ruled out further arrests.