Cigarettes and Cash seized at Dublin Airport
Officers from Revenue's Custom Service at Dublin Airport yesterday, (04/06/2009), seized approximately 100,000 cigarettes with a street value of €41,000 and a potential loss to the exchequer of approximately €32,000.
In an operation targeting a Lithuanian based gang, the cigarettes were seized from passengers who had arrived on a flight from Vilnius, Lithuania. Officers also intercepted a car driven by a male Lithuanian national which contained 32,000 cigarettes and €18,000 cash.
The cash was seized by Customs in accordance with Section 38, Criminal Justice Act 1994 as amended by Section 20, Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2005. Officers were granted a three months detention order this afternoon by Judge Cormac Dunne in Dublin District Court, to carry out further investigations.
This is another significant success for Customs who believe the cigarettes were destined for the black market. The brands seized included 'L&M' and 'Marlboro'.
[Ends 05/06/09]