Eight Tonnes of Tobacco seized by Revenue
Officers of Revenue's Customs Service yesterday, (10/11/2009), seized a consignment of eight tonnes of tobacco leaf and the paraphernalia needed to manufacture up to 12 million cigarettes.
The revenue at risk from this haul is estimated to be over €4 million.
The haul, packed on pallets in a 40 foot-container, was declared as 'paper' and arrived via Holyhead into Dublin Port on Monday. The load showed up inconsistencies when profiled by officers and when scanned by the Customs X-Ray Scanner.
The consignment which consisted of tobacco, filters and packaging material was followed to a premises in Co. Monaghan where officers moved in and seized the illegal load.
Officers believe it was destined for a cigarette-making plant in the border area and believe this seizure is a major blow to the criminals involved. The investigation is on-going nationally and internationally.
[Ends:11/11/2009]