Counterfeit goods which were destined for the streets of Kilkenny and Carlow were seized earlier this month following a swoop by Revenue’s customs services.
Customs seized some 66,520 cigarettes with an approximate retail value of €28,450 as a result of intensified activity between November 3 and November 8.
Customs also confiscated 4.2kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 33 litres of counterfeit vodka.
Revenue Commissioner Liam Irwin in a statement to the Kilkenny Advertiser said, "anyone tempted to buy cheap cigarettes from an irregular source of supply must realise that there is a high possibility that they are buying counterfeit goods, which provide an unknown additional set of health risks as the product is not the subject of quality control.
“These actions are not just robbing the exchequer of much-needed funds, they are also hurting local businesses. Of course, buying smuggled cigarettes is also putting money into the hands of criminals," he added.
A confidential free phone number (1800 295 295 ) was introduced earlier this year for members of the public and businesses to provide Revenue's customs service with any information they may have regarding the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes.
