Revenue seize drugs, cigarettes, beer and cash: total value of seizures over €400,000

Over the course of last week Revenue seized over 233,500 cigarettes, more than 8.9kgs of illegal drugs, cash in both Euro and Sterling and 440 litres of beer. Some of these seizures were made as a result of intelligence led operations while others were made as a result of routine profiling. The details are summarised below.

Following a search, under warrant, of a warehouse in Dundalk, Co Louth, Revenue officers, with the assistance of detector dog Bill, seized 41,800 unstamped ‘Richmond’ branded cigarettes, 440 litres of beer and €30,950 and £18,510 (€21,316 equivalent) in cash. The seized cigarettes and beer have a combined estimated retail value of almost €32,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €24,200.

Again, with the assistance of detector dog Bill and following  a search, under warrant, of a premises in Ballybofey, Co. Donegal, Revenue officers seized over 49,000 cigarettes. The unstamped cigarettes, branded ‘Rothmans’ and ‘NZ’ have an estimated retail value of more than €35,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €27,700.

As a result of a joint operation conducted by Revenue’s Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) and Gardaí from the Store Street Divisional Drugs Unit,  Revenue officers seized 2.75kgs of herbal cannabis approximately and 500 grams of suspected cocaine with a combined estimated value of €90,000 following a search, under warrant, of a house in Dublin 1.

At Dublin Airport, Revenue officers seized a combined total of 142,800 cigarettes as a result of a number of routine operations throughout the week. The smuggled cigarettes, of various brands have a combined estimated retail value of over €44,500, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer exceeding €75,800.

Revenue Officers at Rosslare Europort detained 13 COVID-19 rapid test kits. The kits, which originated in China, are unauthorised for use in the EU, including Ireland, and were discovered when an Irish registered van which had disembarked a ferry from Cherbourg, France was stopped and searched.

Finally, over 5.5kg of various types of illegal drugs were seized by Revenue officers at Dublin Mail Centre, with the assistance of detector dog Bailey.  The illegal drugs have a combined estimated value of over €154,000 and were destined for various addresses throughout Ireland.

These seizures are part of Revenue's ongoing operations targeting the shadow economy and smuggling. 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 26/04/2021]