Almost 1,000,000 smuggled cigs seized by Revenue

Almost 1,000,000 smuggled cigarettes have been seized by Revenue in a series of operations in recent days.

The largest was made today at Dublin Port when detector dog Casey discovered 900,000 cigarettes in five pallets which were consigned as 'catering equipment' and had arrived into Dublin from the Netherlands.

The smuggled cigarettes were branded “Mayfair”.

Investigations are ongoing with a view to prosecution.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, officers seized 7,000 cigarettes when they conducted searches, under court warrant, of two houses in Castletownbere, West Cork.

Detective dog Harvey assisted in the searches, which resulted in the seizure of 7,000 “NZ” cigarettes, and a car.

Two Lithuanian men in their 40s were questioned and a prosecution file is being prepared.

In Dublin Airport last Wednesday, Revenue officers seized 22,000 cigarettes whenthey stopped and searched two men who had arrived on a flight from Istanbul.

The 48-year-old Bulgarian and 37-year-old Moldovan were arrested at the scene and appeared before Judge Halpin in the District court.

They were remanded in custody to Cloverhill prison and will appear in court again tomorrow.

The total value of the seized cigarettes is €511,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of €412,000.