16 December 2022
Two men have been sentenced in the Royal Court today (16/12/22) for tobacco and cigarette
smuggling offences following a lengthy investigation by Jersey Customs and Immigration
Service (JCIS).
Aaran Howard Eastwood, 32, from Jersey was sentenced to a 15 month custodial
sentence for 9 counts of fraudulently evading duty on tobacco and cigarettes at the airport
between October 2020 and October 2021, amounting to approximately £24,650 in duty
evaded and the importation of a small quantity of diazepam tablets, a Class C drug. A
Confiscation Order was also made for the sum of £95,230.
His co-accused Antonio Paulino De Andrade, 60, from Madeira was given a fine of
£6,000 for knowingly acquiring tobacco goods over the same period, chargeable with duty
that had not been paid.
Aaran Eastwood’s multiple trips over this period were purely for the purposes of furthering his
criminal attempts to evade significant amounts of duty. Evidence was found to show he
evaded the duty on 37kgs of hand rolling tobacco and 11,200 cigarettes. Financial
investigations showed Aaran Eastwood had an overall criminal benefit figure of £95,230.
Senior Manager Paul Le Monnier stated that “Aaran Eastwood evaded duty of nearly £25,000
over a period of year by smuggling cigarettes and tobacco into Jersey. The tobacco goods
were then supplied to his co-accused who was selling them locally for profit”. The evasion of
duty is detrimental to both the public purse and local businesses who legitimately pay their
taxes.
Anyone with information on drug smuggling can report it anonymously via 0800 735 5555
gov.je