Revenue seize cigarettes and alcohol in Dublin Port

In routine operations over the last week, officers from Revenue's Customs Services seized over 12,200 cigarettes and over 2,200 litres of alcohol in Dublin Port with a retail value of €24,800 and potential loss to the Exchequer of €14,460.

On Tuesday (29/01/2019) as a result of a joint operation between Revenue’s Customs Service and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Revenue officers at Dublin Port seized 960 litres of alcohol and 11,640 cigarettes, branded ‘Marlboro’, ‘Kent’ and ‘Pall Mall’, with a retail value of €19,100 which represent a potential loss to the Exchequer of €11,460.

In addition to the alcohol and cigarettes, officers from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine seized 3.7 tonnes of various meat products as they did not comply with EU food safety rules with potential impact on public and animal health.

The smuggled alcohol, cigarettes and meat were discovered when officers searched a foreign-registered truck that had arrived in Dublin from Holyhead, having begun its journey in Romania.

Separately, in routine operations over the course of Monday (28/01/2019) and Tuesday (29/01/2019) in Dublin Port, Revenue officers seized 1,235 litres of beer, 14 litres of spirits, 80 litres of wine and 600 smuggled cigarettes, branded ‘Chesterfield’ and ‘Winston’, with a retail value of €5,700 and a potential loss to the Exchequer of €3,000.

The goods were discovered when officers conducted examinations of 6 vehicles that had arrived in Dublin Port from Poland, Lithuania and France.

These seizures are part of Revenue's ongoing operations targeting the illegal importation, supply and sale of alcohol and tobacco products 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.