A Birmingham man has been identified as a member of a major cigarette smuggling operation that defrauded the taxman of approximately £41 million. Ptzewan Majeed, aged 44 and residing in Reservoir Road, Birmingham, served as a distribution driver for the organised crime group, which smuggled over 150 million illegal cigarettes into the United Kingdom.
Majeed admitted his involvement in the activities of an organised crime group and was handed a 17-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. During the investigation, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) conducted seizures of cigarettes and cash in Birmingham, as well as in other locations across England.
Surveillance and Seizures
Between August 2017 and April 2018, HMRC investigators monitored the Bolton-based gang, using surveillance techniques including following, photographing, and recording conversations among members. The operation led to the seizure of more than 2.5 million cigarettes and nearly £1 million in cash during planned vehicle stops.
The gang operated from business premises in Staffordshire and Lancashire, with members observed participating in deliveries, van swaps, and exchanges of boxes and bags. Based on observations of 15 deliveries between October 2017 and February 2018, the group was convicted of smuggling 150 million cigarettes, with the total duty evaded amounting to £41,609,720.
Sentences Handed Down
A total of 11 men pleaded guilty to their roles in the fraud between 2023 and 2025. At Manchester Crown Court on April 23, five individuals received immediate prison sentences of more than ten years, while six others were given suspended sentences of ten years.
Majeed entered his guilty plea in June 2025 and received a 17-month prison term, suspended for two years. Other sentences included:
- Amit Patel, from Bolton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to fraudulently evade excise duty in February 2024. He was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years.
- Jayun Bhudia, from Bolton, pleaded guilty to the same charge in February 2024 and received 22 months in prison, suspended for two years.
- David Cook, of Melling Mount, Liverpool, pleaded guilty in August 2023 and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison.
- Paul Dunbavin, from Prescot, pleaded guilty in February 2024 and received 22 months in prison, suspended for two years.
- Altaf Hussein Patel, from Bolton, pleaded guilty to participating in an organised crime group in October 2024 and was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years.
- Jack Mather, from Bolton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to fraudulently evade excise duty in June 2025 and was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.
- Yasir Ali, from Bradford, pleaded guilty in February 2024 and received 22 months in prison, suspended for two years.
- Carl Coxon, from Gairloch, Ross-shire, Scotland, pleaded guilty to money laundering in February 2024 and was sentenced to one year and 10 months in prison.
- Miralam Mohammed, from Bolton, pleaded guilty to money laundering in February 2024 and was sentenced to one year and four months in prison.
- Arkan Hussein, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to money laundering in October 2025 and was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison.
The case highlights the extensive efforts by HMRC to tackle large-scale tobacco smuggling and tax evasion.
