Sixteen workers based at Gatwick Airport have been charged with plotting to steal £2.4 million worth of duty free cigarettes.
One woman and 15 men were accused of trying to steal the massive haul of cigarettes from their employer Gate Gourmet, which supplies airlines at Gatwick.
A Sussex Police spokesman said: "The charges follow a long-running investigation by Sussex Police into the large-scale theft of duty free items at Gatwick.
"The operation was run with the support of Gate Gourmet, which alerted Sussex Police to the issue after discovering irregularities with its stock.
"Suspects were arrested in a series of raids in July 2013."
The 16 employees were jointly charged with conspiracy to steal and money laundering and have all been released on bail to appear at Crawley Magistrates' Court on May 6.
