Further cigarette seizure by Customs
In an operation code named 'Operation Venture' officers from Revenue's Customs Service in Dublin seized approximately six million contraband 'Souvenir' branded cigarettes on Saturday (07/11/2009).
The cigarettes, which arrived at Dublin Port from Vietnam, were concealed behind a cover load of wooden furniture.
The operation involved lengthy surveillance and investigations by Customs in addition to support by An Garda Siochana based at Dundalk. Several persons have been interviewed and investigations are ongoing both nationally and internationally.
While the quantities seized have still to be counted, it is estimated that, between them, 'Operation Venture' and 'Operation Phoenix', which involved a large seizure in Dundalk (details in previous press release today), there are in excess of 12 million cigarettes with a street value of approximately €4.8 million which would represent an estimated exchequer loss of €3.9 million.
[Ends: 17/11/2009]