A Dundee man has been arrested after 800,000 fake cigarettes were seized in a raid.
The huge haul of contraband was discovered in an industrial unit in the city on Thursday.
HMRC investigators found 824,620 cigarettes and 31kg of hand-rolled tobacco in the container.
The fake goods are believed to be worth an estimated £378,000 in lost duty and taxes.
A HMRC spokesman confirmed a man in his 40s was arrested at the scene and interviewed by officers.
He has since been charged with Excise Duty fraud and released pending further enquiries.
Joe Hendry, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “Cheap cigarettes come at a cost, as they often fund organised crime and other illegal activity that causes real harm to our communities.
“HMRC continues to relentlessly pursue the determined minority who refuse to play by the rules.
“Anyone with information about the illegal sale of cigarettes and tobacco should report it to HMRC online at gov.uk.”
Mr Hendry revealed the sale of illegal tobacco collectively costs the UK around £2.3 billion a year.
He highlighted that this is theft from the taxpayer and undermines legitimate traders.
And he said HMRC supports the work of Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, which brings together a range of organisations to disrupt, detect and deter criminal groups, and divert people away from involvement in serious organised crime.
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