Revenue officials seized over 3 million cigarettes worth more than €2.6m at Dublin Port yesterday.
The huge haul was discovered at Dublin Port when Revenue officers checked a truck that had originated from Belgium. The smuggled cigarettes, branded ‘Lambert & Butler’, were discovered concealed and labelled as 'orange juice.'
Reveunue officers used a special mobile x-ray scanner, which revealed the illegal contents in the truck. A Revenue spokesman confirmed that a man in his 20s has been questioned in relation to the massive haul.
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"Yesterday, as part of an intelligence-led operation and with the assistance of Revenue’s mobile x-ray scanner, Revenue officers seized over 3.3 million cigarettes at Dublin Port. The cigarettes have an estimated retail value of over €2.6 million, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of more than €2 million.
"The smuggled cigarettes, branded ‘Lambert & Butler’, were discovered concealed in a consignment which had originated in Belgium and were manifested as ‘Orange Juice’. The truck in which the contraband was found has been seized and its driver, a man in his 20s, has been questioned.
"Investigations are ongoing."
This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting smuggling, shadow economy activity and the supply of illegal tobacco products.
If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on phone number 1800 295 295.
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