Businessman who imported tobacco hidden inside furniture banned

A Glasgow businessman who imported raw tobacco hidden inside furniture has been disqualified as a company director for eight years.

The tobacco, which was in vacuum-sealed bags and tins, was intercepted by Border Force officers at Grangemouth, near Falkirk, in January 2022.

The shipment was in a container addressed to Fazle Masum's company, Unique Enterprise Ltd.

The 42-year-old did not have the necessary customs approval to import raw tobacco and was fined almost £153,000.

The Insolvency Service said the firm later went into liquidation owing almost £175,000.

Masum was disqualified as a company director at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 8 June, and the ban came into effect on Monday.

The disqualification prevents him from managing, forming or promoting a company without the permission of the court.

Mike Smith, chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, said Masum went to "deliberate lengths" to hide what he was doing.

"That is not conduct we expect from company directors," he added.

Border Force said Masum attempted to recover the tobacco by applying to have the seized products returned to him.

The agency's north region boss Christina Brown added: "Masum's interception highlights Border Force's vigilance against unlicensed tobacco and cigarette smuggling.

"Through intelligence-led multi-agency operations, we are seizing hundreds of millions of illegal cigarettes, disrupting organised crime and protecting legitimate businesses."