Half a million cigarettes and tens of thousands of euro seized in Co Donegal

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

More than half a million cigarettes and cash, together worth an estimated €910,000, have been seized in Co Donegal.

On Wednesday, Revenue searched a residential premises and adjacent yards in Burnfoot under a warrant.

Around 338,000 cigarettes, 12.4kg of rolling tobacco and approximately €415,000 worth in cash were seized.

The cash was in both euro and sterling currencies.

Two vehicles, a cash-counting machine, financial documentation, and mobile phones were also seized.

During follow-up searches on Thursday, a further 200,000 cigarettes were found.

The cigarettes are of various brands and the tobacco is branded “Flandria Virginia”.

They have an estimated retail value of more than €496,000, Revenue said, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €392,000.

Revenue said a judge at Buncrana District Court granted a three-month cash detention order in respect of the money seized.

“It is suspected that the cash is the proceeds of, or intended for use in, criminal activity and is detained by Revenue in accordance with proceeds of crime legislation,” it said.

Gardaí said that no arrests have been made and investigations are continuing.