11 September 2015
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
As part of a national intelligence led operation, Revenue seized over 111,000 cigarettes and 67.5kgs of unstamped roll-your-own tobacco yesterday (10/9/15) in Cork and Dundalk with a retail value of approximately €86,400*.
Officers carried out searches, under warrant, of premises on the North side of Cork City and in Dundalk and seized the unstamped ‘Excellence’ and ‘777’ brand cigarettes along with the unstamped ‘Flandria’ tobacco. Two saloon vehicles were also seized.
Two Irish males, one in his 50s and one in his 60s, were questioned and a file is being prepared for the DPP.
These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the supply and sale of illegal cigarettes. If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes or tobacco, they can contact Revenue in confidence on free phone number 1800 295 295.
*The cigarettes and tobacco represent a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €68,000. This is assuming that they would have displaced the equivalent full tax paid quantity of cigarettes and tobacco.
