26/08/2016

Over 18,000 Cigarettes Seized In Dublin And Limerick

More than 18,000 cigarettes have been seized by Revenue officers in two separate operations in Limerick and Dublin.

The smuggled cigarettes are understood to have originated in Bulgaria and Ukraine and were detected by Revenue Officers in Athlone and Portlaoise Mail Centres.

In the first of two follow-up operations, Revenue Officers acting under court warrant and assisted by detector dog Harvey searched a house in Newcastle West, Co Limerick.

They interviewed a Lithuanian man and seized 8,880 cigarettes branded NZ Gold. In the second operation, Revenue officers also acting under court warrant, searched a house in Dublin, where they interviewed a Bulgarian man and seized 10,000 cigarettes, branded Marlboro and Karelia. Investigations are continuing in both cases, with a view to prosecution.

The cigarettes,with a total retail value of over €9,400 represented a potential loss to the exchequer of over €7,800.

The seizures are part of Revenue's ongoing operations targeting the supply and sale of illegal cigarettes in the shadow economy.

(MH/CD)


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