Some eight million contraband cigarettes with an estimated retail value of €3.1 million were seized by Revenue at Dublin Port yesterday.
The cigarettes arrived into Dublin from Rotterdam on a shipment described as “chilled foodstuffs”. Revenue Customs officers examined the refrigerated container after it was routinely scanned.
They discovered the Top Mountain, Bon International, Royal and Jim branded cigarettes in a box labelled “Garlic & Cheese Tear & Share”.
Customs also seized an Irish registered commercial vehicle and a refrigerated trailer. They interviewed the Irish driver who is in his mid-40s.
Revenue is continuing its investigations into the haul, which brings the value of contraband cigarettes it has seized this year €89.5 million.
Retailers Against Smuggling has called in the Government to introduce harsh measures to tackle the problem of contraband cigarettes, which threatens thousands of jobs in the retail sector.
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