Smuggling

• In the 17th century, the government introduced import duties on goods like silk and tea, leading to increased smuggling activities
• By the 18th century, more goods were taxed, including cloth and alcohol, further fueling smuggling
• The Hawkhurst Gang, operating in the 18th century, controlled large stretches of the south coast of England and was more organized than previous smugglers
• The Hawkhurst Gang, led by Arthur Gray and Thomas Kingsmill, began operating in 1735 but their leaders were court and hanged in 1748 and 1749, leading to the end of the gang's operations by 1749
• Smuggling was a social crime in the 18th century, with many in society not disapproving of it as it provided cheaper goods, leading to some smugglers becoming popular heroes and receiving help from local coastal communities
• Members of the upper classes were reluctant to report smugglers as they benefited from the cheaper goods sold by smugglers, and the smugglers often worked at night under the cover of darkness, making it hard for authorities to crack down on them
• Smuggling as a crime reduced on its own in the 18th century as import duties were reduced by Prime Minister William Pitt in the 1780s and further in the 19th century, making smuggling less profitable and leading to fewer cases