Men jailed for making thousands from confiscated tobacco in Dover

Five men who made nearly a quarter of a million pounds selling confiscated tobacco have been jailed.

Adrian Love, Neil Bradley, Mark Short, Grzegorz Sikora and Adrian Baker (not pictured) all worked at a high-security incinerator plant in Sandwich.

The men had access to cigarettes and tobacco seized by Border Force as part of their job.

Instead of destroying it, they worked together to hide and sell the illegal goods to make money.

They made £235,000 as part of their operation.

Police believe they had strategically placed bags of tobacco around the site to be collected at a later date.

  • WATCH: CCTV captures one of the jailed men (Mark Short) loading bags of tobacco into his car in 2017

The operation was carried out between 2016 and 2017.

It was uncovered when a site manager discovered bags of tobacco left in areas of the plant not normally used for storage.

A covert camera was then installed, where it was discovered that between February and March 2017, bags of tobacco were moved around by Sikora (37) and Short (56).

Their activity was reported to police and an investigation was launched.

Their mobile phone messages had been analysed which implicated all the men involved Credit: Kent Police

Sikora, Short, 47-year-old Love, 47-year-old Bradley and 49-year-old Baker were all arrested and later charged with conspiracy to steal.

Short pleaded guilty to the charge but the others denied any involvement.

A jury at Canterbury Crown Court found the remaining four guilty on Friday 22 March 2019.

All five were sentenced at the same court on Wednesday 24 April 2019.

Grzegorz Sikora Credit: Kent Police

Grzegorz Sikora of Northdown Road in Cliftonville was jailed for 4 years and 3 months.

Mark Short Credit: Kent Police

Mark Short of Singledge Lane in Whitfield was jailed for 3 years and 4 months.

Adrian Love Credit: Kent Police

Adrian Love of Grenville Way in Broadstairs was jailed for 4 years.

Neil Bradley Credit: Kent Police

Neil Bradley of St Augustine’s Road in Ramsgate was jailed for 3 years and 4 months.

Adrian Baker (not pictured) of Bush Avenue in Ramsgate received an 8-month sentence suspended for 18-months and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

  • Watch Tom Savvides' full report below