Revenue bust €450k worth of illegal drugs in Dublin and Athlone disguised as tuxedos, tea and more

Revenue officers, aided by detector dogs Bailey and Sam managed to find more than €450,000 worth of illegal drugs in packages marked as ‘tuxedos’, ‘tea’, ‘board games’, ‘jeans’, ‘car organisers,' and ‘pet blankets.’

The routine checks in Dublin on Wednesday led to the discovery of 18kgs of herbal cannabis, small quantities of butane honey oil, cannabis resin, MDMA, ecstasy tablets, cocaine and synthetic cannabinoids.

It is understood that the parcels originated in North America, Europe and the United Kingdom and were bound for addresses across Ireland.

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During another routine check-in Athlone, officers seized almost 4kgs of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of €80,000.

This parcel arrived in from Spain and was destined for an address in Dublin.

Revenue officers say investigations are ongoing into both seizures.

A statement released today said: “Today (22/06/2022), as part of routine operations, Revenue officers examining parcels at two premises in Dublin, seized illegal drugs worth over €370,000, including almost 18kgs of herbal cannabis.

Detector Dog Bailey (Revenue)

Detector Dog Sam (Revenue)

“Small quantities of butane honey oil, cannabis resin, MDMA, ecstasy tablets, cocaine and synthetic cannabinoids were also seized.

“The illegal drugs were discovered, with the assistance of detector dogs Bailey and Sam, concealed in parcels that originated in North America, Europe and the United Kingdom and were labelled as ‘tuxedos’, ‘tea’, ‘board games’, ‘jeans’, ‘car organisers’ and ‘pet blanket’.

“The parcels were destined for addresses across the Country.

“Separately on Monday (20/06/2022), as part of routine operations, Revenue officers examining parcels at a premises in Athlone, seized almost 4kgs of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of €80,000.

“The illegal drugs originated in Spain and were destined for addresses in Dublin.

“Investigations into both seizures are ongoing.”

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