Two Million Cigarettes Seized in Dublin & Dundalk
Officers from Revenue’s Customs Service in Dundalk and Dublin today (03/07/2007) seized two million cigarettes with a potential loss of revenue in excess of €550,000. The Benson & Hedges, Silk Cut and L&M brand cigarettes have a total retail value of approximately €700,000. One man has been apprehended and questioned in connection with the haul and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The cigarettes arrived by ferry into Dublin Port in two separate consignments from Polandn. The first consignment, which arrived at the weekend, was moved to a warehouse in Co. Louth. Customs officers intercepted an Irish national in his 40's after he collected the consignment from the warehouse. A second consignment arrived in Dublin Port this evening and was seized. The two loads were consigned to the same non-existent company in the Republic of Ireland.
The find resulted from risk profiling. Investigations are continuing both nationally and internationally.
[Ends 03/07/2007]