Increase in Seizures and Arrests at Dublin Airport
Over the last 10 days Officers of Revenue’s Customs Service at Dublin Airport have seized drugs with a value in excess of a half a Million €, cash amounting to Stg£167,420 (€248,000) and 354,000 contraband cigarettes. Six people have been arrested and charged in connection with the importation of drugs.
In one operation on August 28, 90,000 cigarettes valued at almost €30,000 were seized. The cigarettes had arrived from Prague, described as machine parts. Two Lithuanian nationals were questioned and a file is being prepared for the DPP.
Other seizures include two air pistols and 1,500 tubs of prescription medicines.
Seizures by Customs officers result from intelligence, knowledge of international trends, flight and passenger profiling techniques and from experience.
Photographs available, phone 01-7024113.
[Ends 30/08/2006]
Further information…
On August 17, in an operation with US Customs & Immigration Service, 161Kgs of the root drug Khat, valued at approximately €322,000, being exported to the USA was seized. The drugs were discovered in the luggage of two UK females, aged 26 and 21. They have been arrested and charged.
On August 24, a 39-year-old Dutch national was profiled on his arrival from Dusseldorf. Officers suspected that he was a drugs mule. He was detained, and was found to have swallowed approximately 0.9Kg of Cocaine valued at €63,000. He was arrested and charged.
On August 25, as a result of an indication by drug dog "Thatcher", 1Kg of Cannabis resin, valued at approximately €7,000, was seized from a 34-year-old Irish male who had arrived from Amsterdam. He was arrested and charged.
On August 26, in a joint operation with the Garda, Customs officers intercepted a 61-year-old Dutch male as he was departing for Eindhoven, Holland. An examination of his baggage resulted in the discovery of Stg£167,420 (€248,000). The money was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act and a three-month detention order was granted by the District Court on Monday 28th August to allow further investigation.
On August 27, Officers became suspicious of two Dutch nationals, a mother and daughter, who had arrived from Dusseldorf. Officers suspected that drugs had been concealed internally. The women were brought to Beaumont hospital and X-rayed. The daughter, aged 26, had approximately 0.5Kg of cocaine concealed internally. Her 44 year-old mother had approximately 1Kg of cocaine concealed internally. Both were arrested and charged. The drugs are valued at approximately €105,000.