Customs arrest two for cigarette smuggling at Dublin Airport
Officers from Revenue's Customs Service yesterday, (30/07/2009), arrested two Latvian nationals at Dublin Airport for smuggling cigarettes.
The two, an 18 year-old woman and a 38 year-old man, who had arrived into Dublin Airport from Riga, Latvia, were arrested and charged with being concerned in the evasion of a Duty of excise on excisable products.
Following a baggage search officers discovered hoards of 10,000 and 6,400 cigarettes. The 'L&M' brand cigarettes are valued at approximately €6,523 with a potential loss of revenue of €5,358.
The woman appeared before Judge Hugh O'Donnell in Blanchardstown District Court where she was remanded on €300 bail. The man appeared in the Bridewell before Judge Patrick Clyne and was remanded on €1,000 bail. Both had to surrender their passports and sign on daily at Store Street Garda Station. They are due to appear again at Dublin District Court 44 on Tuesday 4th August 2009.
This brings to four the number arrested for cigarette smuggling offences this week by Customs officers at Dublin Airport in their on-going campaign against the organised smuggling of cigarettes from the Baltics and Eastern Europe.
In a separate operation on Tuesday this week (27/07/2009) Customs at the airport seized a quantity of Equine and Bovine anti- flu vaccines. These products are prohibited from importation except under licence.
The products were discovered when Customs searched the baggage of a 72-year-old American national who had arrived on a flight from New York. Customs believe the products were destined for the black market in veterinary products.
[Ends: 31/07/2009]