Officers from Revenue’s Customs Service seized over 3 million cigarettes this week with a retail value of €1.5 million euro and a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €1 million euro, in two separate operations involving both Revenue and An Garda Siochana.
As a result of an intelligence-led operation yesterday, officers from Revenue’s Customs Service seized 2 million Benson and Hedges cigarettes at a commercial premises in Athenry, Co Galway. The cigarettes, which originated in Belgium and came in through Dublin Port, had a retail value of €950,000 euro and a potential loss to the Exchequer of €729,000 euro.
In a separate joint operation last Saturday (04/05/13), 1.2 million cigarettes with a retail value of €550,000 euro, over 400 kgs of tobacco with a retail value of €180,000 euro and a small quantity of counterfeit vodka, were seized at a private premises in Faughart, Dundalk by Revenue officers. The total retail value amounts to €730,000 euro and represents a potential loss to the Exchequer of €620,000.
No arrests were made and enquiries are ongoing.
If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes, they can contact Revenue in confidence on free phone number 1800 295 295.
