Thousands of unstamped cigarettes and kilos of tobacco pouches seized during search of Cork house

Thousands of unstamped cigarettes and kilos of tobacco pouches were seized during a search of a house in Cork city by Revenue officers.

Paul Moore’s home at Willowbank View, Fairhill, Cork, was searched on October 17 2023 by Revenue officers who received information of the sale or supply of tobacco products from his home.

Cigarettes which would have had a full value of €33,600 if sold legitimately through shops were discovered. So too was 23.4 kilogrammes of pouch tobacco. None of the seized tobacco products had the revenue stamps. The total value of cigarettes and tobacco if sold legitimately would have been over €43,000.

The total loss of revenue to the state was put at just under €34,000.

Jessica Kelleher barrister for the 44-year-old man who pleaded guilty to having the unstamped tobacco products said that he was fully cooperative with the investigation and that this was his first offence of this kind.

“He is looking for work. He has work lined up in March. He has worked previously. He used to drink to excess but now only drinks at weekends,” Ms Kelleher said as she pleaded for leniency for the accused at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Colin Daly noted that the accused was cooperative with the investigation and made admissions.

“He was involved in this for his own financial gain. In mitigation the personal circumstances and efforts to rehabilitate must be taken into account. The probation report is middling only, at best, where he is deemed to be a high risk of reoffending,” Judge Daly said.

The judge added that he was hesitating in giving the accused a fully suspended sentence and said there had to be some sanction.

Judge Daly adjourned finalisation of the matter for the probation service to report on Mr Moore’s suitability for community service instead of a jail sentence. The case was listed for February 22 for that assessment to be made.