Cut-price cigarette imports outlawed

A DEAL by which British smokers could buy imported cigarettes at discounts of up to 40 per cent was outlawed by the European Court of Justice yesterday.

The British Enlightened Tobacco Company, which first hit the headlines when it introduced a brand called "Death", bought cigarettes in EU countries where taxes are low and resold them directly to individuals in Britain. BJ Cunningham chairman of the ETC said yesterday the company would have to go into liquidation because the court case had cost pounds 750,000.