10 March 2016
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Today in Cork city, Revenue officers seized 12,400 unstamped cigarettes and 1 kg of unstamped hand-roll tobacco. A quantity of the cigarettes, branded ‘Excellence’, and tobacco, branded ‘Flandria’, was discovered when a truck was stopped and searched as part of an ongoing operation into the sale and distribution of unstamped tobacco products in Cork. The truck was seized as it had been used to transport the contraband.
Detector dog ‘Harvey’ uncovered more cigarettes and tobacco in follow-up searches of a shop and two private residences on the north side of the city. The combined value of the seized product is in excess of €7,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of €5,500.
Three Irish nationals, in their 20s, 40s and 50s have been questioned. Investigations are ongoing with a view to prosecution.
These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing enforcement operations targeting the illegal importation, supply and sale of tobacco products. If you have any information about the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes or tobacco, contact Revenue confidentially on free phone number 1800 295 295.
