REVENUE officers have seized almost half a million unstamped cigarettes at a commercial premises in Cork city and Skibbereen.
With the assistance of An Garda Síochana, they seized 445,000 cigarettes yesterday with a retail value of approximately €222,500.
The cigarettes represent a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €175,500
Following an indication by Harvey, Revenue’s sniffer dog, approximately 42,000 unstamped ‘NZ Slim’ cigarettes were seized at a commercial premises in the city. The cigarettes were concealed inside several ‘mannequins’.
Following a controlled delivery, a further 403,000 ‘NZ Slims’ and ‘Septs’ cigarettes were seized in follow-up searches in Skibbereen. A UK registered van was also seized.
Two Polish males and one Lithuanian male, all in their 30s, were interviewed and files are being prepared for consideration.
These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the supply and sale of illegal cigarettes.
Businesses or members of the public who have any information regarding the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes or tobacco, are asked to contact Revenue in confidence on free phone number 1800 295 295.
