DUBLIN: The smuggled ‘Marlboro Gold’ cigarettes were discovered stuffed into the checked-in baggage belonging to two Moldovan men when they arrived in Dublin last Saturday.
The cigarettes are worth over €16,000 with a potential loss to the Exchequer of nearly €13,000.
The men, aged 26 and 27, were arrested and appeared before Dublin Circuit Court on Wednesday morning.
They both pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 119 of the Finance Act: evasion of excise duty with intent to defraud the State.
Judge Smith sentenced them each to six months’ imprisonment which was suspended on the condition that they depart Ireland within 24 hours, and they were fined €2,500 each.
