Search Results for 'Smuggling'

In two separate, intelligence-led operations on Wednesday, officers from Revenue's Customs Service seized 32,500 cigarettes with a retail value of €14,156 and a potential loss to the Exchequer of €11,840.

A Kilkenny retailer has warned that the easy availability of illegal cigarettes has caused hundreds of job losses in the retail sector this year.

As part of the Revenue Commissioners’ ongoing national crackdown on cigarette smuggling, Revenue staff in the Midlands have intensified their enforcement operations aimed at identifying illegal cigarette selling. Regular nationwide blitz operations are undertaken by Revenue enforcement officers across the country and have proven successful in seizing large quantities of cigarettes and tobacco so far this year. Revenue operations across the country focus on retail outlets, markets, door to door sales, ports and airports. In the Midlands, Revenue have a particular focus on the weekly Clara Market and have made several seizures of smuggled cigarettes destined for that market over recent months. The market has been subject to blitz operations by Revenue Enforcement staff, sometimes under cover, in recent weeks.

Labour Councillor for Galway City Council Niall McNelis believes that the scale of the illegal cigarette trade in Galway city is out of control and Customs and Excise must take action to eradicate the worsening problem both in the city and county.

Fianna Fail councillor Ken Glynn has welcomed “with open arms” the approval of €300,000 in Dormant Accounts funding for the Dial-to-Stop Drug Dealing campaign, saying the scheme is of vital importance to our community.

Chairman of the Athlone Drug Awareness Group, Cllr Frankie Keena, said he was delighted with the success of the drug seizure by the Gardai in Athlone last weekend.