Customs Seize 9 million Cigarettes
In an intelligence led operation, Officers from Revenue's Customs Service assisted by an Garda Siochana, on Saturday (17/12/2011), seized 9m cigarettes at a premises in Co. Monaghan. The 'President' brand cigarettes have a retail value of €3.8m and represent a potential loss to the Exhequer of €3.2m.
The contraband cigarettes had arrived into Dublin Port in a 40 foot maritime container from Malaysia, via Rotterdam and were described as 'sports socks' on the manifest.
This operation is part of an ongoing strategy between Revenue and An Garda Siochana to combat the smuggling of cigarettes and tobacco into the State.
Revenue would like to remind anyone tempted to buy cheap cigarettes from an irregular source of supply that there is a high possibility they are buying counterfeit goods, which provide an unknown set of health risks as the product is not the subject of quality control. It also takes much needed funds from the exchequer; hurts legitimate trade and is funding criminal activity. If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes, they can contact Revenue in confidence on free phone number 1800 295 295.
[Ends 19/12/2011]