Revenue seize contraband worth over €3,129,500 in various operations
Over the week commencing 21/07/2025, Revenue officers seized contraband with an estimated value of €3,129,500 in various operations in Dublin, the Midlands, Dublin Airport and Rosslare Europort. The detections were made as a result of risk profiling and intelligence led operations, and included:
- 100.69 kgs of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of €2,092,000
- various other illicit drugs with an estimated value of almost €79,146
- 963,400 cigarettes, with an estimated value of over €807,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €635,407
- cash to the value of over €5,000
- 428 counterfeit items with an estimated value of over €144,025.
Included in the herbal cannabis are two operations in Dublin Airport, the first on Wednesday, 23/07/2025, when, as a result of risk profiling, Revenue officers seized 43.30 kgs of herbal cannabis. The cannabis has an estimated value of approximately €866,000. The cannabis was discovered concealed in vacuum packed packages within the baggage of a flight originating from Canada.
In the second operation on Saturday, 26/07/2025, Revenue officers seized 43.86 kgs of herbal cannabis. The cannabis has an estimated value of approximately €971,000.
The cannabis was discovered, with the assistance of detector dog Dara, concealed in vacuum packed packages within the baggage of a passenger who had disembarked a flight originating from Canada. A male in his 20s was subsequently arrested by An Garda Síochána in relation to the seizure and is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Dublin Garda Station.
The other herbal cannabis and illicit drugs were discovered, with the assistance of detector dogs Ciara and Enzo, while Revenue officers were examining parcels at premises in Dublin, the Midlands and at Rosslare Europort. The parcels originated from the USA, Canada, Ireland and the UK, and were destined for various addresses nationwide.
The cigarettes and alcohol products were seized in various operations in Dublin, the Midlands, and Rosslare Europort. Included in the cigarettes are 960,000 cigarettes seized in Dublin Airport on Friday, 25/07/2025. The cigarettes have an estimated value of €804,000. This represents a potential loss to the Exchequer of €632,841.60. The cigarettes branded ‘Top Gun’ were discovered, with the assistance of detector dog Maggie, amongst cargo originating from Singapore.
During risk profiling operations in Rosslare, Revenue officers, with the assistance of detector dog Jasper, detained cash to the value of over €5,000. On Monday, 28/07/2025, Revenue officers were granted a three-month detention order in respect of this cash by Judge John Cheatle at Wexford District Court.
The counterfeit goods were seized as they were confirmed by the Rights Holder to have infringed on Intellectual Property Rights.
Investigations into all seizures are ongoing.
These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting smuggling and shadow economy activity. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295.
[Ends 28/07/2025]