UPWARDS of 180,000 cigarettes, a quantity of wine and counterfeit vodka were seized in an operation in the Ballysimon area.
The seizure, which is a part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the supply and sale of illegal cigarettes, has a potential retail value of €72,000 and a potential loss to the exchequer of €59,000.
Four individuals have been questioned and the investigation is ongoing with a view to prosecution.
A confidential free phone number (1800 295 295) was introduced earlier this year for members of the public to provide Revenue’s Customs Service with any information they may have regarding the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes.
“Anyone tempted to buy cheap cigarettes from an irregular source of supply must realise that there is a high possibility that they are buying counterfeit goods, which provide an unknown additional set of health risks as the product is not the subject of quality control,” said Revenue Commissioner Liam Irwin.
“These actions are not just robbing the exchequer of much needed funds, they are also hurting local businesses. Of course, buying smuggled cigarettes is also putting money into the hands of criminals,” he concluded.
