Iriekpen v Revenue and Customs (CUSTOMS DUTIES - Appellant in possession of 90,000 cigarettes at London City Airport) [2025] UKFTT 242 (TC) (20 February 2025)

Iriekpen v Revenue and Customs (CUSTOMS DUTIES - Appellant in possession of 90,000 cigarettes at London City Airport) [2025] UKFTT 242 (TC) (20 February 2025)

Appellant was dishonest by failing to check or declare tobacco restrictions, deliberately shut his eyes to the obvious, and did not genuinely believe there were no restrictions; HMRC's penalty reductions were fair and reasonable.

Citation
[2025] UKFTT 242 (TC)
Parties
Appellant: Izzy Iriekpen; Respondents: The Commissioners for His Majesty's Revenue and Customs
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Judgment Date
20 February 2025
Procedural Posture
Appeal / Final Judgment
Outcome
Appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Customs Duties, Excise Duties, Civil Evasion Penalty, Dishonesty, Travellers' Allowance, Penalty Reduction

Case Brief

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Parties

Izzy Iriekpen

Appellant

The Commissioners for His Majesty's Revenue and Customs

Respondents

Procedural Posture

Appeal / Final Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the appellant's conduct involved dishonesty in attempting to evade customs and excise duties
  2. 2 Whether HMRC's reductions to the penalty were fair

Ratio Decidendi

Appellant was dishonest by failing to check or declare tobacco restrictions, deliberately shut his eyes to the obvious, and did not genuinely believe there were no restrictions; HMRC's penalty reductions were fair and reasonable.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed

Orders

  • Civil evasion penalty of £25,583 confirmed
  • No further reduction to penalty