Non-duty paid cigarettes were smuggled into RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire and RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire in 2008 and 2009. Following analysis of mobile phones, computers and other documents, HMRC investigators found that at least 1.14 million cigarettes were smuggled on flights from Oman, evading around £204,000 in revenue, and over six million cigarettes smuggled on flights from Afghanistan, evading almost £1.1million in revenue.Corporal Stuart Helens (31), Senior Aircraftman (SAC) Paul Garbutt (31) and Sergeant Stuart Walker (43) pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to evade duty on cigarettes smuggled on flights from Oman from July to September 2008. Corporal Stuart Helens, SAC Paul Garbutt, and a civilian, Christopher Garbutt (26), pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to evade duty on cigarettes smuggled on flights from Afghanistan between December 2008 and May 2009. The RAF servicemen directly purchased, or made arrangements for the purchase of, non-duty paid cigarettes from Muscat and Kabul. Paul Garbutt’s civilian brother, Christopher Garbutt, was involved with the Afghanistan importations. He collected the cigarettes from UK airbase import sheds and drove them off-site for distribution. Since their guilty pleas were entered in June Corporal Stuart Helens, SAC Paul Garbutt and Sergeant Stuart Walker have been discharged from the RAF. Upon sentencing at Bristol Crown Court His Honour Judge Longman said that all the former serving RAF airmen were motivated by greed, had been trusted implicitly and had made handsome profits at the expense of the public.Adrian Farley, HMRC Assistant Director Criminal Investigation, said:“This was a blatant abuse of trust, which required careful planning to smuggle huge quantities of cigarettes into UK airbases and onto the UK’s streets. Not only did this criminal gang undercut honest retailers, but, ironically through their actions to evade duty, these airmen deprived the UK and their fellow servicemen and women of vital public funds. We will continue to work closely with the military to root out this kind of illegal activity and disrupt criminal operations wherever possible.”HMRC’s enquiries began at the request of the RAF’s Special Investigations Branch after RAF Police stopped a van containing 10,000 L&M Brand cigarettes at RAF Lyneham on 30 April 2009. The van was driven by Corporal Stuart Helens. In the early hours of that morning HMRC officers discovered a further nine boxes each containing 10,000 cigarettes. It is believed that the cigarettes were destined for sale in the North East of England.Paul Garbutt and three civilians were sentenced for money laundering offences. Paul Garbutt, his aunt Alison McCabe and his aunt’s partner Lisa Harrison, a financial advisor at a bank, collectively laundered at least £95,000 towards the purchase of Paul Garbutt’s home in Billingham, County Durham. Christopher Garbutt, laundered cash by converting £13,398.06 into 18,160 United States dollars. The sentences handed down are as follows: Stuart Helens (former Corporal) jailed for three yearsPaul Garbutt (former SAC) jailed for three years and four monthsStuart Walker (former Sergeant) jailed for two yearsChristopher Garbutt sentenced to nine months and six months, suspended for two years, and 150 hours of unpaid workLisa Harrison sentenced to 12 months suspended for two years, and 150 hours of unpaid workAlison McCabe sentenced to six months suspended for 18 monthsA Royal Air Force spokesman said: “Any abuse of the RAF Air Transport service for the illegal importation of contraband is viewed very seriously and appropriate action will always be taken against those who break the rules. These three servicemen have been discharged from the RAF.”Confiscation of assets will be sought at a later date under the Proceeds of Crime Act.A seventh person will be sentenced at a later date.SW 8/11