1.4 Million Cigarette seizure at Dublin Airport
Officers of Revenue’s Customs Service at Dublin Airport have seized approximately 1.4 million cigarettes since St Patrick’s Day on flights from Riga, Latvia. The cigarettes are valued at €483,000 with a potential loss of revenue amounting to €378,000. The haul included Marlboro, L & M, Chesterfields and other lesser-known brands. Officers also seized two motor vehicles which were being used to transport the cigarettes from the airport.
The seizures were as a result of Customs officers targeting a cigarette smuggling gang operating through Dublin Airport. Revenue identified that this particular gang, based in Latvia, is distributing cigarettes for sale on the black market throughout the country.
Shay Doyle, Customs manager at Dublin Airport, said; "Operations are on-going and Customs will continue to target cigarette smuggling gangs from Ireland and Eastern Europe operating through the airport."
Almost 7.5 million cigarettes valued at €2.7 million, with a potential loss of revenue amounting to €2.1 million, and 350Kgs of tobacco valued at €154,200 and a potential loss of revenue amounting to €104,000 have been seized at Dublin Airport since January 2007.
[Ends 21/03/2007]