Cigarettes Seized at Dublin Airport
Officers of Revenue's Customs Service at Dublin Airport yesterday, (12/05/2009), seized 90,000 cigarettes with a street value of approximately €37,000 and a potential loss to the exchequer of approximately €28,000.
In an intelligence led operation against a Lithuanian based gang the cigarettes and tobacco were seized from passengers acting as couriers who had arrived on a flight from Vilnius Lithuania. Thirteen people were questioned in relation to the seizures and files are being prepared for the DPP.
This was another significant success for Customs following a similar operations last week against the same smuggling gang. Officers believe the cigarettes and tobacco were destined for the black market in the Dublin area. The brands seized were 'Marlboro Red', 'Marlboro Light' and 'L&M' .
To-date in 2009 Customs at Dublin Airport have seized 13 million cigarettes.
[Ends: 13/05/2009]