Revenue seize cash and contraband alcohol, tobacco and medicine products

Yesterday (07/03/2023), as part of routine operations, and with the assistance of Revenue’s mobile X-ray scanner, Revenue officers seized almost 23,000 litres of beer at Dublin Port. The smuggled beer of multiple brands has an estimated retail value of nearly €91,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €42,000.

The beverages were discovered in an unaccompanied trailer that had arrived from Holyhead.

Separately yesterday (07/03/2023), at Dublin District Court, Revenue officers were granted a three-month cash detention order by Judge Treasa Kelly. This followed the seizure, earlier that day, of almost €8,000 at Dublin Port. The cash was discovered during the course of routine checks by Revenue officers when a foot passenger in his 20s was stopped and searched upon his arrival on a ferry from Holyhead.

Also, yesterday (07/03/2023), as part of an intelligence-led operation and with the assistance of detector dog Toby, Revenue officers seized over 16,600 cigarettes, 10kgs of ‘roll your own’ tobacco and a quantity of contraband medicine and alcohol products during the search of a commercial premises, under warrant, in the Dublin 1 area.

The seized contraband has a retail value of almost €21,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €16,000. A man in his 40s was questioned and investigations are ongoing.

Investigations into all of these seizures are ongoing.

These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing work targeting smuggling and shadow economy activity. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding such activities, they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295.

[ENDS 08/03/2023]