Sale and supply in Limerick described as “rampant”
THE sale and supply of illegal cigarettes in Limerick has been described as “rampant,” with confirmation that upwards of 100,000 are seized every week.
A Revenue official confirmed that a “substantial” amount of money is lost to the State in the sale of illegal cigarettes, and that the matter is escalating, with up to a dozen field officers working to combat the situation.
A local shop owner told the Limerick Post that the latest figures were of major concern.
“It is not that we are just losing out on cigarette sales…customers coming in for a packet would be likely to buy other items, ie, papers, confectionery, magazines, etc., resulting in a serious loss in turnover in what are difficult enough times.
“We play by the book and should be protected. Thankfully, Revenue are chasing the culprits, but the situation is widespread”.
State solicitor Michael Murray, prosecuted a 37-year-old man found with over 40,000 cigarettes “stashed” in various rooms throughout his Caherdavin home, including over 11,000 counterfeit Silk Cut cigarettes stored in a holdall under the stairs.
Last December, a house at Blackthorn Drive in Caherdavin, was raided by Revenue and Customs officials, who found 41,590 cigarettes in bedrooms, the kitchen and under the stairs.
A variety of lesser known market brands were amongst those seized.
At Limerick District Court, Michael Murray pointed out that there was “considerable loss of revenue to the State”.
Judge Tom O’Donnell described it as a “cottage type industry”.
According to Revenue, it is operational through a “closed circuit group who buy and sell to their own networks”.
The cigarettes come to the Mid West through a variety of outlets, including through the airports and ports in batches of up to 10,000 at a time.
Reports that the cigarettes are brought in by illegal importers via large suitcases through busy terminal airports and under cars travelling through the sea terminal ports, were confirmed to this newspaper.
