Revenue seize drugs and cigarettes worth €136,000 in Dublin, Athlone and Rosslare

Yesterday (22/03/2021), Revenue officers at Dublin Mail Centre seized almost 4kgs of various types of illegal drugs including herbal cannabis, cannabis oil, cannabis edibles, cocaine and butane honey oil. The illegal drugs have a combined estimated value of almost €77,500 and were discovered in 28 separate parcels that originated in the UK, USA and Canada.

Separately yesterday (22/03/2021) Revenue officers at Athlone Mail Centre seized 620 Zopiclone tablets and 5.7kgs of various types of illegal drugs including herbal cannabis, cannabis resin, amphetamine, synthetic cannabinoids and cannabis infused edibles. The illegal drugs have a combined estimated value of almost €50,000 and were discovered in 23 separate parcels that originated in the UK and Spain.

The seizures arising from these routine operations were made with the assistance of Revenue detector dogs operating in each mail centre, both named Bailey. The parcels were declared as items such as ‘boxing equipment’, ‘dough craft toy’, ‘fishing tackle’, ‘beef jerky’, and ‘ice hockey equipment’ and were destined for various addresses throughout Ireland.

Finally, also yesterday (22/03/2021), Revenue officers at Rosslare Europort seized approximately 12,000 cigarettes branded ‘Minsk’ and ‘L&M’ when an Irish registered vehicle that had disembarked a ferry from Cherbourg, France was stopped and searched. The illicit cigarettes have an estimated retail value of over €8,500, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €6,720.

A Polish national in his 40s was questioned.

Investigations are ongoing into all seizures.

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

[Ends 23/3/2021]