Revenue officers have seized tobacco products worth €1,396,000 in Limerick, Rosslare Europort and Tipperary.
In an intelligence-led operation on Thursday, Revenue officers seized 73,200 cigarettes, 20kg of rolling tobacco, a vehicle and a small amount of cash whilst searching premises in Limerick and Tipperary. The searches were conducted with the assistance of detector dog Guss and An Garda Síochána.
Today (Friday), Revenue officers were granted 3 month cash detention order by Judge Patricia Harney at Limerick District Court in respect of the €1,850 cash seized. It is suspected that the cash is the proceeds of, or intended for use in, criminal activity and is detained by Revenue in accordance with proceeds of crime legislation.
In Rosslare Europort, Revenue Officers seized 1,452,600 cigarettes. The cigarettes, branded Oscar Special Filter, Oscar Super Slims Blue and Mac Extra Filter Queens, have a retail value of over €1,310,000 representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of more than €1,036,000.
The cigarettes were discovered when, as a result of risk profiling, an accompanied freight unit that had disembarked a ferry from Dunkirk, France was stopped and searched. The truck & trailer were also seized.
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The cigarettes were branded Mayfair, John Player Blue and Silk Cut Purple, and have a retail value of almost €66,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €52,200. The tobacco was branded Amber Leaf and has a retail value of over €17,600 representing a potential loss to the exchequer of almost €13,400.
A number of individuals were questioned during the course of these operations, and investigations into all seizures are ongoing.
This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the supply and sale of illegal cigarettes and tobacco in the shadow economy. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes or tobacco, they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295.
