"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"
Taken from the official press notice...
Here.
Note that it states... "Contrary to some initial media speculation there is nothing to suggest that repatriation flights were used to smuggle these cigarettes." Let's hope that is true.