Seven staff of the Gambia Embassy in London, including the Deputy Ambassador, have been jailed for a total of 33 years for illegally selling tobacco on the illicit market.
The staff which included four diplomats led by the Deputy Ambassador Yusupha Bojang (54) - who is said to be a cousin of Gambian President - Yahya Jameh, Gaston Sambou (39), Georgina Gomez (30), Ebrima John (38), Veerahia Ramarajaha (54), Audrey Leeward (49), and Hasaintu Noah (60), were found guilty of illegally selling 26 tonnes of hand rolling tobacco and failing to account for nearly £4.8 million in lost revenue, following an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Yusupha Bojang
Yusupha Bojang (54) of Loughton, Essex was found guilty of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue and sentenced to seven years in prison.
Gaston Sambou (39), of Finchley, London was found guilty of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue and was sentenced to six years in prison.
Georgina Gomez (30), of Beckton, London was found guilty of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue and was sentenced to five years in prison.
Ebrima John (39), of Kensington, London was found guilty of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue and was sentenced to six years in prison.
Veerahia Ramarajaha (54), of Tooting, London was found guilty of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue and dealing/harbouring/concealing/carrying dutiable goods contrary to section 170 (1)(b) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. He was sentenced to three years in prison.
Audrey Leeward (49), of Croydon, Surrey was found guilty of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue and was sentenced to three years in prison.
Hasaintu Noah (60), of Colliers Wood,London was found guilty of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue and was sentenced to three years in prison.
The group, who all worked at the Gambian Diplomatic Mission in London, abused diplomatic privileges by purchasing large quantities of tobacco tax-free from specialist duty free sales companies International Diplomatic Supplies and Chacalli De Decker. The group who were non-smokers, then sold the tobacco on the black market at a profit, without accounting for tax or duty. They established a network for selling the tobacco to members of the Gambian community in London.
Tobacco stored at Gambia Embassy London
Tobacco stored at Gambia Embassy London
The investigation team found that the fraud had taken place for a number of years and the investigation focused on sales and purchases between 2009 and 2012.
Embassy rules allow diplomats to legitimately buy tobacco free from Excise Duty and VAT for personal use, but they are not allowed to sell it on.
Martin Brown, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation for HMRC, said:
"Diplomats are allowed duty free goods for their personal use but the systems works on trust. These individuals abused that trust by selling vast amounts of hand rolling tobacco on the black market, thinking they were beyond the reach of the law – they were wrong.
“Investigators found an established supply network for the tobacco had been built up over a number of years.
“Excise evasion is a serious offence and, as this case shows, HMRC will not hesitate to take action where we find evidence of fraud."