Revenue seizes 7 million contraband cigarettes

Officers from Revenue's Customs Service today (09/07/12) seized 7 million contraband cigarettes with a retail value of approximately €2.7m and potential loss to the Exchequer of €2.4m at Dublin Port.

The "Raquel" and "Capital" brand cigarettes arrived in Dublin Port from Zeebrugge in Belgium in a shipment described as "non-hazardous groupage" and were discovered by Revenue officials when the consignment was routinely scanned by the mobile scanner.

An Irish registered commercial vehicle and trailer were seized and the driver was interviewed. Investigations are ongoing both nationally and internationally.

This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the smuggling and sale of illegal cigarettes.

This latest seizure brings the total number of cigarettes seized by Revenue to date in 2012 to 66 million, with a retail value of €28 million.

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 freephone number 1800 295 295.

[Ends 09/07/12]