County Derry pensioner pleads guilty to smuggling cigarettes and tobacco

A County Derry pensioner today pleaded guilty at his arraignment at Derry Crown Court in Bishop Street to smuggling cigarettes and hand rolled tobacco over two years ago.

The defendant, Patrick Martin Higgins, 72, from Greenvale Park in Magherafelt admitted committing the offences on April 27, 2023.

At his arraignment before Judge Roseanne McCormick the defendant pleaded guilty to the fraudulent evasion of duty on 3,872 cigarettes.

He also pleaded guilty to the fraudulent evasion of duty on 125 kilogrammes of hand rolled tobacco and he further admitted possessing criminal property, namely £6,500 in cash.

Discussions are to take place between defence and prosecution barristers in relation to two other similar charges.

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Judge McCormick ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence report for October 8 and the defendant was released on continuing bail until that date.