Manchester Airport smugglers spared jail

    Three men who attempted to smuggle more than 220,000 cigarettes through Manchester Airport inside nine suitcases have been spared jail.

    They were caught as they each took three large suitcases stuffed with tobacco through the 'nothing to declare' customs channel at the airport.

    Ismaeel Abdul-Kareem, 46, Salem Abdullah and Hardo Artoshy, both 41, were each jailed for four months, suspended for two years, at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court.

    In total the men were found to be carrying 220,800 cigarettes in the nine cases, worth an estimated £77,428 in unpaid duty and VAT.

    The three men, all from Oxford, were stopped at customs by Border Force officers after flying in from Iraq via Doha, in Qatar, in January this year.

    More from Local and National News

    Listener Club

    Get more with the Listener Club!

    • Bhangra Nights Bhangra Nights

      Get over the Weekday blues - Every Tuesday night is party night with the best Bhangra and Urban Asian Beats. The Bhangra Show every Tuesday between 8pm-11pm

    • Remix Saturdays Remix Saturdays

      Every Saturday evening we turn to remixes of hit songs to get you in the Saturday night party mood! Every Saturday between 5pm - 8pm

    • Alim OnAir Alim OnAir

      Have you a question about the religious, cultural or tradition aspect of Islam? Then join Hazrat Maulana Fazal Dad in the weekly show every Friday between 8-9pm.

    • The Golden Era The Golden Era

      The golden era of Bollywood celebrated in this weekly show full of classics taking you back in time. Every Sunday between 5pm - 7pm