All 11 men pleaded guilty to their roles in the fraud during hearings between 2023 and 2025
13:13, 24 Apr 2026Updated 13:14, 24 Apr 2026
Jack Mather, 57, of Highbrook Grove, Bolton, pleaded guilty to conspiring to fraudulently evade excise duty in June 2025. (Image: HM Revenue and Customs)
Eleven men have been sentenced at Manchester Crown Court for smuggling more than 150 million cigarettes into the UK. The Bolton-based gang has been convicted following a massive HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) surveillance operation.
HMRC investigators followed, photographed and recorded conversations between members of the gang between August 2017 and April 2018. During the surveillance operation, HMRC seized more than 2.5 million cigarettes, and nearly £1m in cash in planned vehicle stops.
The gang members, who operated out of business premises in Lancashire and Staffordshire, were seen taking part in deliveries, van swaps, and exchanges of boxes and bags.
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HMRC seized nearly £1 million in cash in planned vehicle stops.
The men were convicted of smuggling 150 million cigarettes based on observations of 15 deliveries between October 2017 and February 2018, with the duty evaded totalling £41,609,720.
David Cook, sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison
All 11 men pleaded guilty to their roles in the fraud during hearings between 2023 and 2025.
Overall, five of the men were handed immediate sentences of more than 10 years in jail and another six received a further 10 years of suspended sentences at Manchester Crown Court yesterday (23 April 2026).
The eleven men sentenced
- Amit Patel, 42, of Westbourne Avenue, Bolton, pleaded guilty to conspiring to fraudulently evade excise duty in February 2024. He was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years.
- Jayun Bhudia, 35, of Herons Way, Bolton, pleaded guilty to conspiring to fraudulently evade excise duty in February 2024. He was sentenced to 22 months in prison suspended for two years.
- David Cook, 54, of Melling Mount, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to conspiring to fraudulently evade excise duty in August 2023. He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison.
Boxes of seized cigarettes
- Paul Dunbavin, 55, of Blenheim Drive, Prescot, pleaded guilty to conspiring to fraudulently evade excise duty in February 2024. He was sentenced to 22 months in prison suspended for two years.
- Altaf Hussein Patel, 46, Weythorne Drive, Bolton, pleaded guilty to participating in the activities of an Organised Crime Group in October 2024. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison suspended for two years.
- Jack Mather, 57, of Highbrook Grove, Bolton, pleaded guilty to conspiring to fraudulently evade excise duty in June 2025. He was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.
Some of the 150 million smuggled cigarettes(Image: HM Revenue and Customs)
- Pshtewan Khaleed Majeed, 44, of Reservoir Road, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to participating in the activities of an Organised Crime Group in June 2025. He was sentenced to 17 months in prison suspended for two years.
- Yasir Ali, 39, of Whetley Lane, Bradford, pleaded guilty to conspiring to fraudulently evade excise duty in February 2024. He was sentenced to 22 months in prison suspended for two years.
- Carl Coxon, 65, of Gairloch, Ross-shire, Scotland, pleaded guilty to Proceeds of Crime – acquired criminal property – money laundering, in February 2024. He was sentenced to one year and 10 months in prison.
- Miralam Mohammed Khan, 54, of Settle Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to Proceeds of Crime – acquired criminal property – money laundering, in February 2024. He was sentenced to one year and four months in prison.
Miralam Mohammed Khan, 54, of Settle Street, Bolton, was sentenced to one year and four months in prison.
- Arkan Hussein, 41, no fixed address, pleaded guilty to Proceeds of Crime – acquired criminal property – money laundering, in October 2025. He was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison.
Seized cigarettes
Authorities have asked for anyone with information about the illegal sale of tobacco or alcohol to report it on GOV.UK.