Revenue seize over €860,000 worth of tobacco products in the past week
Kenneth Fox
A total of €860,000 worth of tobacco products is among over €1 million worth of contraband seized by Revenue over the past week.
The operations were carried out in Dublin, the Midlands, Wicklow, Monaghan and Rosslare Europort.
They led to seizures of over 7 kilos of herbal cannabis and 1.7 kilos of edibles, as well as a number of smoke bombs.
Revenue said detections were made as a result of risk profiling and intelligence-led operations, and included the following:
Over 7.2 kg of herbal cannabis, with an estimated value of over €144,280;
Almost 1.71 kg of edibles, with an estimated value of over €1,700;
111 ml of cannabinoid liquid, with an estimated value of over €1,290;
20.3 g of ketamine, with an estimated value of over €1,200;
Various other illicit drugs, with an estimated value of over €3,380;
Tobacco products, with an estimated value of over €861,550, represent a potential loss to the exchequer of almost €661,470;
Over 81 litres of alcohol with an estimated value of almost €1,290, representing a potential loss to the exchequer of almost €750;
30 counterfeit items with an estimated value of over €13,000.
Included in the tobacco products are over 560,000 cigarettes along with 75 kg of tobacco following a search of a premises were seized in the Wicklow area.
The seized tobacco products, which included the brands Marlboro Gold, L&B and Amber Leaf, have an estimated retail value of over €605,000, with a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €460,000.
A man in his 40s was questioned. Investigations are ongoing.
Additionally, included in the tobacco products are over 270,000 cigarettes which were seized following a search, under warrant, of a residential premises in Co Monaghan.
A car was also seized following this search. Detector dog Toby assisted in this operation.
The illicit cigarettes were branded Oris, Marlboro, Winston, Kent, Rothman, NZ and Lucky Strike, and have an estimated retail value of over €256,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €201,000. A man and woman were questioned, and investigations are ongoing.
The herbal cannabis and illicit drug seizures were made as a result of risk profiling and with the assistance of detector dog Dáithí.
The parcels originated from the USA, the UK, Australia, Thailand, Brazil and Canada, and were destined for various addresses nationwide.
The counterfeit goods were seized as they were confirmed by the Rights Holder to have infringed on Intellectual Property Rights. Four weapons were also seized.
Investigations into all seizures are ongoing.
