Customs officers have seized 9m illegal cigarettes at a premises in Co Monaghan, it was announced today.
The raid took place on Saturday after the contraband cigarettes had arrived into Dublin Port in a 40-foot container from Malaysia, via Rotterdam. They were described as ‘sports socks’ on the manifest.
The ‘President’ brand cigarettes have a retail value of €3.8m and represent a potential loss to the Exhequer of €3.2m, a statement from customs officials said.
“This operation is part of an ongoing strategy between Revenue and An Garda SÃochána to combat the smuggling of cigarettes and tobacco into the State,” the statement continued.
“Revenue would like to remind anyone tempted to buy cheap cigarettes from an irregular source of supply that there is a high possibility they are buying counterfeit goods, which provide an unknown set of health risks as the product is not the subject of quality control.
“It also takes much needed funds from the exchequer; hurts legitimate trade and is funding criminal activity.”
