Customs Seize 63,000 Cigarettes in Cork
Officers from Revenue's Customs Service at Cork Airport last night (07/12/10) seized 15,400 unstamped cigarettes with a potential loss to the Exchequer of €5,350. The brands seized were "Denim" and "Don Antonio". A UK national, who had arrived on a flight from Paris, was arrested.
On the previous night (06/12/10), two females in their forties were detected smuggling 18,600 cigarettes each through Cork Airport. A file is currently being prepared for prosecution. The total quantity of cigarettes seized in Cork Airport to date this year is approximately 1.7 million.
In a separate operation last weekend, Officers from Revenue's Cutter "SUIRBHÉIR" seized 10,400 cigarettes from a number of foreign fishing vessels at Castletownbere. Three vessels were detained during the operation. Prosecution files are being prepared in relation to the offences.
A confidential free phone number (1800 295 295) was introduced earlier this year for members of the public to provide Customs with any information they may have regarding the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes.