A cigarette smuggler who went on the run before being sentenced has been caught and jailed.

Al Gui He, 38, from Charlton, failed to appear in court in August, but was sentenced in his absence to four years in prison for his part in a scam where illegal cigarettes were hidden in fish pumps, dummy camera boxes and toys.

However, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers found him in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.

Gui He appeared in court where he was ordered to begin his prison sentence.

Simon Kiefer, assistant director, fraud investigation service, HMRC, said: “Gui He thought he’d got away with it after going on the run, but he couldn’t have been more wrong and now he is exactly where he should be - behind bars.

“We need the public’s help to track down one of his accomplices in the smuggling operation, Shou Chen, who also absconded, so he too can begin his prison sentence. If you know Chen’s whereabouts, or suspect anyone of committing tobacco fraud, please report it to HMRC online or by calling our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”

HMRC investigators discovered Gui He and two others imported illegal tobacco into the UK through Heathrow hidden in table tops destined for Chinese restaurants.

The trio used lock-ups at six storage facilities across London including Charlton, New Cross, Bermondsey, Eltham and Beckenham to store the illegal cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco.

The duty evaded on the tobacco was £475,000.