Two carpenters smuggled millions of illegal cigarettes into the UK inside planks of wood.

Regimantas Nekrosevicius, 45, and Edvardas Zolynas, 43, used the same timber planks in a dozen shipments to and from Eastern Europe.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) became aware of the scam after 5.4 million cigarettes were seized by Border Force at Yorkshire in August 2018.

The Lithuanian men set up fake companies, using aliases, to receive 13 deliveries between March 2018 and February 2019.

Edvardas Zolynas, from RomfordEdvardas Zolynas, from Romford (Image: HMRC)

It’s estimated that the two evaded £19.9 million in duty.

Zolynas, of Park Drive, Romford, was convicted of conspiracy to fraudulently evade excise duty and was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court to five years prison on July 31.

Cigarettes were hidden in planks of woodCigarettes were hidden in planks of wood (Image: HMRC)

Nekrosevicius, of Marling Way, Gravesend, admitted conspiracy to fraudulently evade excise duty and was sentenced to four years and six months at the same court on July 31.

Regimantas NekroseviciusRegimantas Nekrosevicius (Image: HMRC)

Mark Hedley, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “Cheap cigarettes come at a cost as they steal money from our public services and often fund organised crime and other illegal activity that also harm our communities.

“We are determined to stamp out tobacco fraud by working closely with our partners in the UK and internationally to bring those responsible to justice.

“We urge anyone with information about the sale, storage or smuggling of illicit cigarettes or tobacco to contact HMRC online.”