Two men sentenced to 6 months imprisonment for the evasion of duty on cigarettes

Following two separate seizures by Revenue’s Customs Service at Rosslare Europort on 26/07/12, of approximately 103,000 cigarettes in total, two men appeared before Judge McHugh at Cloverhill District Court today, 31/07/12. Each man was fined €2,500 and sentenced to six months imprisonment.

Both men, a Moldovian national and a Lithuanian national, in their twenties, pleaded guilty to charges relating to the evasion of duty on excisable products. The cigarettes, including the brands, "L&M", "Winston", "Marlboro", "Kiss Slims", "Minsk Superslims" and "Pall Mall" had a total retail value of €46,600 and represented a loss to the Exchequer of €40,000.

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 31/07/12]