Revenue seize cigarettes and cash in Dublin city and at Dublin Airport

Last Thursday (18/07/2019), as part of an intelligence led operation, Revenue officers seized over 2,500 unstamped cigarettes and approximately €5,000 in cash following a search, under warrant, of a residential property in Dublin’s north inner city. The detection was made with the assistance of Revenue detector dog Kelly. The unstamped cigarettes, branded ‘Excellence’, had a retail value of over €1,300, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €1,200.

On Friday (19/07/2019) at Dublin District Court, Revenue officers from were granted a three month cash detention order to allow for further investigations to be carried out.

A 61 year old woman was arrested at the scene by Gardaí and was brought to Store Street Garda Station where she was charged, bailed and will appear before Dublin District Court at a later date under Section 78 of the Finance Act 2005.

Separately, on Tuesday (16/07/19), at Dublin District Court, Revenue officers from Dublin Airport were granted a three month cash detention order by Judge Bryan Smyth.

This followed the seizure of over €13,000 cash on the same day when, following routine profiling, Revenue officers stopped and searched a man in his forties travelling to Milan, Italy. The cash, comprised of Euro, Dollars and British Pound Sterling, was found in the hand luggage of the Libyan national. Revenue officers seized the cash, suspecting it to be the proceeds of, or intended for use in, criminal activity.

Investigations are ongoing in both operations.

These operations are part of Revenue's ongoing work targeting smuggling, the sale of illicit cigarettes and shadow economy activity. If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding smuggling or the sale of illicit products, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.

Ends [19/07/2019]