10m Cigarettes Seized at Port of Cork
In an intelligence driven operation, Officers from Revenue's Customs Service today (14/06/2011), seized 10 million cigarettes which arrived into the Port of Cork from Malaysia.
The contraband cigarettes, which have a retail value of €4.2m and represent a potential loss to the Exchequer of €3.5m, were concealed in a 40 foot LO/LO maritime container and were declared as 'Paper Stationery' on the Bill of Lading.
The "Club 88" brand illicit whites were manufactured in Malaysia. This is the first time this brand has been seized by Revenue's Customs Service.
The European Anti Fraud Office (OLAF) played a pivotal role in assisting Revenue in this international operation.
To date in 2011, 54m cigarettes with a retail value of approximately €22.5m have been seized by Customs.
[Ends 14/06/11]