Revenue officers have seized almost €110,000 worth of cigarettes and tobacco in a search of residence earlier today.
In a statement, a Revenue spokesperson said: “As a result of an intelligence led operation, Revenue officers seized almost 143,000 cigarettes and 22.5kgs of ‘roll your own’ tobacco, following a search, under warrant, of a house in the Dublin 7 area.
“The seizure was made with the assistance of Revenue detector dog Bill and with the support of An Garda Síochána.
“The illicit cigarettes, branded ‘Richmond’, ‘Blue River’ and ‘Richman Royal’, and tobacco branded ‘Flandria’, ‘Cutters Choise’ and ‘George Karelias’ have an estimated retail value of over €110,500, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €87,200.
“A 64 year old man was interviewed and investigations are ongoing.”
Revenue says that these seizures are part ongoing operations “targeting the shadow economy and the sale and supply of illegal tobacco products.”
If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding shadow economy activity, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.