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Most-wanted cigarette smuggler jailed after 12 years on run Most-wanted cigarette smuggler jailed after 12 years on run
(about 13 hours later)
A cigarette smuggler found in Spain after 12 years on the run has been sentenced to four years in jail.A cigarette smuggler found in Spain after 12 years on the run has been sentenced to four years in jail.
Malcolm McGowan was on the UK's most-wanted list of tax fugitives after he was found guilty in 2001 of smuggling 28 million cigarettes into the country.Malcolm McGowan was on the UK's most-wanted list of tax fugitives after he was found guilty in 2001 of smuggling 28 million cigarettes into the country.
Last month Spanish police arrested the 61-year-old, who previously lived in Nottingham and Edinburgh, at a swimming pool in eastern Spain's Valencia. Last month, Spanish police arrested the 61-year-old, who previously lived in Nottingham and Edinburgh, at a swimming pool in Valencia.
He appeared earlier at Sheffield Crown Court to finally begin his prison term.He appeared earlier at Sheffield Crown Court to finally begin his prison term.
Judge Julian Goose QC said: "You sought to evade justice and have been on the run for 12 years.Judge Julian Goose QC said: "You sought to evade justice and have been on the run for 12 years.
"You will now serve the four-year sentence you were given in 2001.""You will now serve the four-year sentence you were given in 2001."
The total haul of cigarettes McGowan smuggled was worth about £16m and cost the UK about £4m in duty, according to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).The total haul of cigarettes McGowan smuggled was worth about £16m and cost the UK about £4m in duty, according to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
It added that McGowan was part of a wider conspiracy to smuggle about 56 million cigarettes into the UK between November 1999 and March 2000.It added that McGowan was part of a wider conspiracy to smuggle about 56 million cigarettes into the UK between November 1999 and March 2000.
Ten others were involved in the plot which cost the UK about £8.2m, HMRC said.Ten others were involved in the plot which cost the UK about £8.2m, HMRC said.
After the sentencing hearing, Adrian Farley, of HMRC, said: "We can now begin to recover the proceeds of his [McGowan's] role in the crime which, with daily interest, currently stands at over £345,000."After the sentencing hearing, Adrian Farley, of HMRC, said: "We can now begin to recover the proceeds of his [McGowan's] role in the crime which, with daily interest, currently stands at over £345,000."