Officers from Revenue's Customs Service have seized 88,000 cigarettes in Dublin. 69 kilogrammes of 'roll your own' tobacco was also found in the intelligence-led operation in the north-inner city.
The goods were seized from a lockup unit and had an estimated retail value of €65,000. Revenue says they are a potential loss to the Exchequer of €55,000.
The cigarette brands seized included 'Dorchester', 'Don', 'Excellence', 'Jin Ling' and 'Gold Classic', while the tobacco included 'Turner', 'Original Virginia', 'Samson' and 'Golden Virginia'.
An Irish man aged in his 60s was questioned in relation to the seizure, and investigations are continuing - with a view to sending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The seizures are part of on-going operations targeting the supply and sale of illegal cigarettes.
In 2014 to date - in operations related to the sale of illicit tobacco in the Dublin city centre area - Revenue's Customs Service has seized 360,855 illicit cigarettes and 360 kilogrammes of tobacco, with a total retail value of over €233,000 and potential loss to the Exchequer of €197,000.
