A gang who smuggled around 150 million cigarettes into the UK and evading around £40m in tax and excise duty have been sentenced.

Among the 11 members of the Bolton-based gang was Yasir Ali, 39, of Whetley Lane Bradford.

Ali pleaded guilty to conspiring to fraudulently evade excise duty in February 2024. He was sentenced to 22 months in prison suspended for two years.

He was part of a gang who had been watched by HMRC investigators since 2017. Detectives followed, photographed and recorded conversations between members of the gang between August 2017 and April 2018.

During the operation, HMRC seized more than 2.5 million cigarettes and nearly £1 million in cash in planned vehicle stops.

Members of the gang, who operated out of business premises in Lancashire and Staffordshire, were seen taking part in deliveries, van swaps, and exchanges of boxes and bags.

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.

placeholder image — HM Revenue & Customs

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).

Full sentencing details:

Amit Patel DOB: 24/09/1983, 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 DOB:13/03/1991, 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 DOB: 22/09/1971, 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.
Paul Dunbavin DOB: 06/12/1970, 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 DOB: 04/10/1979, 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 DOB: 07/02/1969, 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.
Pshtewan Khaleed Majeed DOB: 23/09/1981, 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 DOB: 10/04/1987, 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 DOB: 14/06/1960, 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 DOB: 01/01/1972, 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.
Arkan Hussein DOB: 20/02/1985, of 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.