Revenue seizes cigarettes at Dublin Port

As a result of routine profiling, officers from Revenue's Customs Services, this morning (28/11/14), seized 600,000 cigarettes in Dublin Port with a retail value of €304,000*.

The 'Marlboro' brand cigarettes were discovered when officers conducted an examination of a large wooden crate which had arrived from the Far East. The consignment was described on the manifest as "safety footwear", and when examined was found to contain cigarettes concealed beneath a layer of shoes. Investigations are ongoing with a view to referring a file for criminal prosecution.

These seizures are part of Revenue's on going operations targeting the supply and sale of illegal cigarettes in the shadow economy. If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes or tobacco, they can contact Revenue in confidence on free phone number 1800 295 295.

*The cigarettes and tobacco seized represent a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €261,000. This is assuming that they would have displaced the equivalent full tax paid quantity of cigarettes and tobacco.

[Ends: 28/11/14]