Revenue seizes 8,000 cigarettes and discover 40,000 ecstasy tablets

Officers from Revenue's Customs Service today (25/05/12) seized 8,000 cigarettes with a retail value of approximately €3,100 and potential loss to the Exchequer of €2,724.

The 'Eight' brand cigarettes, which originated in China, were detected by Revenue officials in Portlaoise Mail Centre and a controlled delivery was undertaken. The cigarettes were seized this morning in a residential premises on the south side of Cork city. While undertaking the cigarette seizure, Revenue officials discovered 40,000 ecstasy tablets with a street value of approximately €400,000 and a small cannabis grow house.

Gardaí were called to the scene and arrested two Chinese nationals - one male and one female - in their early thirties. They were taken to Bridewell Garda Station for questioning.

[Ends: 25/05/12]