The four year jail sentence of Benjamin Spicer for smuggling £6m-worth of cigarettes is an encouraging development for independent retailers. As Debbie Corris a retailer in the Tobacco Retailer Alliance points out in the video, UK plc is losing £11.5m per day.  In a recession-hit  economy it’s a win-win strategy for the government to pursue – support small businesses and prevent tax revenues leaking away into the black market.  So, good for the judge who pointed out to Mr Spicer that he is not a “courier” but part of a large and sinister smuggling operation.