Revenue seize cash and cigarettes after searches at Dublin Airport

Revenue officers at Dublin Airport yesterday seized 31,600 cigarettes, when they stopped and searched the checked baggage of an Irish man who was arriving in from London Heathrow.

The smuggled cigarettes branded ‘Benson & Hedges’ and ‘Rothmans’ have an estimated retail value of €22,000 representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of €19,500.

On Tuesday, February 3, Revenue officers were granted a three-month cash detention order by Judge Brian Smyth.

This followed a seizure of €22,400 in cash at Dublin Airport the previous day.

A routine profiling and search of two passengers arriving from Gdansk resulted in the find.

The cash is suspected to be the proceeds of, or intended for use in, criminal activity and is detained by Revenue in accordance with proceeds of crime legislation.

A male and female in their sixties, originally from Poland were questioned in relation to the seizure.

Investigations are ongoing.

These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting organised crime 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 the confidential free phone number 1800 295 295.