16 people have been charged with plotting to steal over two million pounds worth of cigarettes from their employers at Gatwick Airport.

The 15 men and one woman have been charged jointly with stealing duty free cigarettes from Gate Gourmet, a business that supplies airlines at the airport.

They’ve been released on bail to appear at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on May 6th.

The charges follow a long running investigation by Sussex Police into the large-scale theft of duty free items at Gatwick.