A GLASGOW woman tried to smuggle cigarettes into Scotland disguised as shoes to avoid paying duty on them.

Xiao Guo, 32, ordered almost 20,000 cigarettes from China but they were intercepted by HMRC at the sorting office, after they received a tip off.

Five packages addressed to Guo’s home were examined at the depot in February, last year – with labels that indicated the package contained shoes.

Instead thousands of Malrboro Gold cigarettes were found inside. Further packages with cigarettes including Chinese brands were stopped and opened.

HMRC searched Guo’s home in Calton, Glasgow that month and discovered a Royal Mail box similar to those at the sorting office, as well as a book with figures and numbers and postal references.

Guo pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to attempting to evade paying £6390 duty on cigarettes and attempted to have packages delivered from China, between February 14 and March 2, last year.

The court heard in December 2016 an anonymous letter was received at the Parcelforce depot in Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, tipping off staff.

Sheriff Linda Ruxton deferred sentence until next month and ordained Guo to appear.