Cigs and cash seized by Revenue in Cavan

Revenue seize contraband worth over €695,000 in various operations.

Revenue officers seized a vehicle, 26,200 cigarettes and approximately €8,900 in cash following the search of a vehicle and subsequent other searches, under warrant, of two premises in Cavan in the past week.

The raids, part of an intelligence-led operation, were carried out in with the assistance of detector dog Toby.

The seizures form part of wider operations carried out over the past week, commencing May 11, during which officers seized contraband with an estimated value of over €695,000 between searches in Dublin, the Midlands, Cavan and at Rosslare Europort.

That includes 21.5kg of herbal cannabis, with an estimated value of over €419,500; and 5.4kg of cannabis resin, with an estimated value of over €31,600.

The herbal cannabis and illicit drugs seizures were made, with the assistance of detector dogs Ciara and Sam, by the interception of parcels originating from the US, the UK, Spain, Greece, France, Brazil, Sweden and India, and destined for various addresses nationwide.

In other searches tobacco products, with an estimated value of over €202,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of almost €157,100, were lifted. In one other operation, 146,900 cigarettes and 22.5kg of tobacco was seized on Sunday, May 17, at a market in North County Dublin. This was was result of a joint operation involving Revenue and An Garda Síochána, again with the assistance of detector dog Toby. The seized cigarettes and tobacco, of various brands, have an estimated value of over €160,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €124,000.

A quantity of alcohol was also seized.

Over 490 litres of alcohol, with an estimated value of over €6,200, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €3,300, was seized; as well as 87 counterfeit items, with an estimated value of over €16,900; as well as various other illicit drugs, with an estimated value of over €9,900.

The counterfeit goods were seized after being confirmed by the Rights Holder as infringing Intellectual Property Rights.

Meanwhile, 172 weapons accessories were seized, with investigations into all said to be “ongoing”.

The seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting smuggling and shadow economy activity, and were made as a result of risk profiling and intelligence-led operations.

Businesses or members of the public with information regarding smuggling can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295.