By Dan Walsh
Revenue officers at Rosslare Europort have seized almost 18,500 cigarettes with an estimated retail value of €13,120 representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of €10,350.
The illegal cigarettes, branded ‘’Benson & Hedges Gold’, ‘Benson & Hedges Silver’ and ‘L&M Blue’, were discovered when Revenue officers stopped and searched a Slovakian registered van that had disembarked a ferry from Cherbourg, France.
The search, which was carried out with the assistance of Revenue’s mobile x-ray scanner and detector dog Gus, led to the discovery of the cigarettes concealed within the load. A Slovakian national in his 40s was questioned.
Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, Revenue officers at Rosslare Europort also seized 85 litres of wine. The wine was discovered following the search of an unaccompanied trailer, with the assistance of Revenue’s mobile x-ray scanner, that had arrived on a ferry from Cherburg, France. The wine has a retail value of over €1,000 representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of more than €550. Investigations are ongoing.
These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal cigarettes and alcohol. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.
WexfordLocal.com 