A BLACKMARKETEER stored a haul of illicit tobacco in a pushchair, a court heard.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) discovered Xiao Qing Lin, 27, used his home in Poplar Grove, Great Horton, Bradford, as a distribution and packaging hub for the sale of counterfeit hand-rolling tobacco.

The fraud was uncovered when a maintenance contractor noticed bin liners filled with ‘loose’ tobacco hidden inside a divan bed in June 2015.

HMRC searched the four-bed semi detached house, seizing counterfeit packaging depicting major brands, bogus ‘duty paid’ stamps and 28kg of contraband – valued at £5,382.93 in unpaid duty.

In the porch, officers found a pushchair filled with carrier bags containing pouches of tobacco.

The father-of-one pleaded guilty to the fraudulent evasion of excise duty when he appeared at Bradford Crown Court and was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.

After the case, an HMRC spokesman said: “Tobacco fraud is a highly organised global crime which costs the UK £2.4 billion a year in lost duty.

"This is theft from the taxpayer and undermines legitimate traders who cannot compete with those who pedal illegal cigarettes.

"I urge anyone with information on those who may be involved to call the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000.”