Arrest of Cigarette Smuggler at Dublin Airport
Officers of Revenue's Customs Service arrested a woman at Dublin Airport last night (14/05/2007) for the illegal importation of cigarettes. Sandra Piruska, a 46-year old Latvian national had arrived on a flight from Riga when she was intercepted by Customs Officers. On examining her baggage, officers discovered 17,200 cigarettes. She was arrested and appeared in court this morning where evidence of arrest was given. She was remanded in custody, to appear again on 18th May 2007.
This arrest is part of Dublin Airport Customs on-going operations against gangs involved in the large scale smuggling of cigarettes into Ireland. To-date in 2007 Customs at Dublin Airport have seized 12.3million cigarettes valued at €3.4million, and 392Kgs of tobacco valued at €104,500. In 2006 22.7million cigarettes were seized at Dublin Airport.
[Ends 15/05/07]