Two charged following separate seizures of 'illicit' cigarettes in Dublin

Two men have appeared in court after they were charged in connection with separate drugs seizures in Dublin Airport and Dublin Port in recent days.

In an update this Monday evening, a Revenue spokesperson confirmed one man appeared in court today after he was charged in relation to the seizure of 10,000 cigarettes in Dublin Airport on Sunday.

"Revenue officers seized the cigarettes as a result of risk profiling, after they stopped and searched the luggage of a passenger who had arrived from Poland. The cigarettes, branded ‘Winston’, have a retail value of approximately €8,170, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €6,000," said the spokeperson.

The second man appeared in court on Saturday after he was charged in relation to the seizure of 10,000 cigarettes and 3kgs of untaxed tobacco in Dublin Port last Friday.

In that case, Revenue officers seized the contraband, as a result of risk profiling, after they stopped and searched the cab of a truck which had entered the State from the UK.

The cigarettes branded ‘Lambert & Butler’ and  ‘Mayfair’, and the tobacco, branded ‘Amber Leaf’, have a combined  estimated retail value of over €10,800, representing a potential loss to the exchequer of over €8,400.

Separately, Revenue has confirmed that Revenue officers were granted three three-month cash detention orders at Dublin District Court following the seizures of cash totalling approximately €31,150 at Dublin Airport last week.

It is suspected that the cash, which was seized on January 10, is the proceeds of, or intended for use in, criminal activity and is detained by Revenue in accordance with proceeds of crime legislation. 

Investigations in respect of all seizures are ongoing.