RARE tortoises at Colchester Zoo have been tucking into tomatoes used in a failed plot to smuggle cigarettes into the country The UK Border Agency was left with boxes of the fruit after it seized ten million cigarettes at the Port of Felixstowe.

The tomatoes were used as a cover load in an attempt to smuggle the cigarettes through the port.

The fruit has been given to the zoo’s tortoises, including the African giant sulcatas, and its iguanas.

Anthony Tropeano, Colchester Zoo’s zoological director, said: “Our annual bill for feeding the many endangered species at Colchester Zoo is well over £200,000, so we are very grateful to the UK Border Agency.

“Our rare tortoises and other reptiles are now thoroughly enjoying tucking into the tomatoes.”

UK Border Agency officers foiled the attempted smuggling, which happened on September 13.

Brian Hill, the agency’s assistant director at the port, said: “Cigarette smuggling is serious organised criminality, often generating funds for larger operations, like people trafficking.

“Clearly, our first priority is to disrupt the smuggling operation, but when we make seizures like this we will also try to find a productive use for the cover load.

“Obviously, tomatoes discovered in this fashion are unsuitable for public consumption, but I am pleased they seem to have gone down very well with the tortoises at Colchester Zoo.”

A spokesman for the agency said, if the smuggling plot had been successful, the criminals behind it would have cost the country more than £2million in unpaid tax and excise duty.