DUBLIN, Ireland: Revenue has seized more than 1 million euros worth of contraband over the past week, including 860,000 euros in tobacco products.
Operations took place in Dublin, the Midlands, Wicklow, Monaghan, and at Rosslare Europort.
The week's seizures included over 7 kg of herbal cannabis, 1.7 kg of edibles, and several smoke bombs. Revenue said the detections resulted from risk profiling and intelligence-led checks, and included:
- 7.2 kg of herbal cannabis valued at over 144,280 euros
- 1.71 kg of edibles valued at over 1,700 euros
- 111 ml of cannabinoid liquid worth over 1,290 euros
- 20.3 g of ketamine worth over 1,200 euros
- Other illicit drugs worth over 3,380 euros
- Tobacco products worth over 861,550 euros, representing a potential 661,470 euros loss to the exchequer
- 81+ litres of alcohol valued at nearly 1,290 euros, with a potential exchequer loss of almost 750 euros
- 30 counterfeit items worth more than 13,000 euros
In Wicklow, Revenue seized over 560,000 cigarettes and 75 kg of tobacco during a premises search. The products—brands including Marlboro Gold, L&B and Amber Leaf—had a retail value of more than €605,000, with a potential Exchequer loss of about 460,000 euros. A man in his 40s was questioned, and investigations continue.
A separate search at a home in Co Monaghan uncovered more than 270,000 cigarettes, and a car was also seized. Detector dog Toby assisted in the operation. The cigarettes—brands such as Oris, Marlboro, Winston, Kent, Rothman, NZ, and Lucky Strike—had a retail value exceeding 256,000 euros, representing an estimated 201,000 euros loss to the Exchequer. A man and a woman were questioned.
The cannabis and other drug parcels were intercepted through risk profiling, with help from detector dog Dáithí. The packages originated in the USA, UK, Australia, Thailand, Brazil, and Canada, and were addressed to locations around Ireland.
Revenue also seized counterfeit goods confirmed to violate intellectual property rights, along with four weapons.
All investigations are ongoing.
