Revenue seizes more than 9.5 million contraband cigarettes in Dublin, Meath and Tipperary

In a series of intelligence led enforcement operations targeting the supply and sale of illegal cigarettes and tobacco, Revenue Officers have seized more than 9.5 million cigarettes in the past week.

This morning (28/01/2016), 7800 cigarettes branded "MG", "Marlboro Gold" and "Royal Classic”" and 3.5 Kg of "Flandria" tobacco were seized when 3 houses in Dublin’s inner city were searched under warrant in an ongoing operation targeting illegal trade in Moore Street .

Yesterday afternoon (27/01/2016), Revenue officers executed a search warrant on a house in Cashel Co Tipperary and seized over 39,000 ‘MG’ brand cigarettes. A man in his 40s was questioned and a file is currently being prepared for the DPP.

Yesterday evening (27/01/2016), 6.6 million cigarettes were seized from a warehouse in Co. Meath. The container of "Royale Pacific" brand cigarettes originated in Vietnam, and had arrived into Dublin Port on Monday, from Rotterdam. The smuggled cigarettes were described as "Shower room linen baskets" on the manifest.

Last Thursday (21/01/2016), 2.9 million cigarettes were seized at Dublin Port. The "Jim" brand cigarettes had also originated in Vietnam. Investigations are ongoing in all cases.

The combined value of the seized product is €5 million, representing a total loss to the Exchequer of almost €4m*.

These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing enforcement operations targeting illegal importation, supply and sale of tobacco products. If you have any information about the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes or tobacco, contact Revenue confidentially on free phone number 1800 295 295.

[Ends: 28/01/2016]

* This is assuming that they would have displaced the equivalent full tax paid quantity of cigarettes and tobacco.