REVENUE OFFICERS HAVE seized 4.3 million cigarettes at Rosslare Europort.
The consignment of illegal cigarettes, branded ‘Marine Blue’ and ‘Marine Green’, were discovered on Saturday when Revenue officers stopped and searched a Dutch registered truck that had disembarked a ferry from Cherbourg, France.
The search, which was carried out with the assistance of Revenue’s mobile x-ray scanner, led to the discovery of the illegal cigarettes.
A spokesperson for Revenue said the cigarettes have an estimated retail value of €3.2 million, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of more that €2.5 million.
A Bulgarian man in his 40s was questioned as part of the operation. Investigations are ongoing.
The seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the shadow economy and the supply and sale of illegal tobacco products.
If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on free phone number 1800 295 295.
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