Officers appeal after £1.5 million haul of American Legend cigarettes stolen
Police are appealing for witnesses after 300,000 packets of cigarettes were stolen from Southampton docks.
At about 9.30am on Monday, June 7, a heavy goods vehicle arrived at the site and the driver claimed he was there to pick up a consignment of American Legend cigarettes.
The cigarettes, which have a street value of about £1.5 million, were loaded onto the trailers and the HGV left the site.
Some time later, the genuine driver arrived on site and the theft was discovered.
The cigarettes came from a Greek company – Karelia Tobacco – and were destined for Gibraltar.
They are distinctive in that they are only sold in Gibraltar, some parts of Spain and some parts of Africa.
They are not sold anywhere in the UK. Officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit of Hampshire Constabulary are keen to hear from anyone who has been offered these cigarettes or who has any information about the theft.
Can you help?
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Robert Cox, at Hulse Road in Southampton on 101 or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111. Mini-Com users can call 01962 875000. From outside Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, please call 0845 045 45 45.
