Officers from the UK Border Agency (UKBA), working at Plymouth Ferryport, seized 350 kilos of hand rolling tobacco (enough to make 700,000 cigarettes) from the man a woman who had arrived at the port on a ferry from Santander, northern Spain.
The Limavady pair were stopped by UKBA officers on Tuesday morning, 12 August, as they disembarked the ferry. During a search of their car, a Renault Espace, the tobacco goods were discovered in 35 laundry bags in the back of the vehicle.
The tobacco and cigarettes were seized along with the vehicle. And it is estimated that the revenue evaded was about £41,000.
After questioning by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) investigation officers, the 34 year-old man and 30 year-old woman were released on bail. Further enquiries are continuing.
Bob Gaiger, HM Revenue & Customs spokesman in the South West said: "This is the second large tobacco seizure at the ferryport in a couple of weeks. Smugglers should not see regional ports like Plymouth as a soft touch.
"This latest seizure highlights the importance of our role in the community in helping to stamp out smuggling and tax evasion.
"Those smuggling tobacco products are stealing around £3 billion from the public purse each year – money that could be funding vital public services such as hospitals and schools."
Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to cigarette and tobacco smuggling should call the HMRC 24-hour hotline on 0800 59 5000."