Overview

• Neil Conlon, 64, was sentenced to two years and eight months at Newcastle Crown Court after admitting involvement in duty evasion from July 2018 to October 2020.
• HMRC seized 7,432,600 non-UK duty paid cigarettes in July 2018 from three shipping containers at a Killingworth self‑storage site rented in his sister‑in‑law’s name, with CCTV showing Conlon moving boxes.
• Officers later recovered £443,435 in cash hidden around Conlon’s Forest Hall home during an October 22, 2020 search.
• Phone analysis showed Conlon used Signal to arrange shipments with a contact called “Henry” in Poland, who referred to him as “Boss,” with orders running to thousands of sleeves per shipment.
• Prosecutors said Conlon later sought supply from “Alex Boxer,” charges against his wife were dropped, and HMRC warned illicit tobacco profits can fund serious organised crime.