DUBLIN: Thousands of packets of illegal cigarettes have been found hidden under a cargo of farm machinery by Customs sniffer dog Casey.
In her latest success, the three-and-a-half-year-old springer spaniel-cross became suspicious when a lorry pulling a low-loader came off a boat from Rotterdam at Dublin Port.
Revenue said almost 250,000 cigarettes – about 12,500 packets with Marlboro Gold, Marlboro Red and Winston Blue branding – were concealed in the trailer’s chassis rail.
The lorry was registered in Poland and the Polish driver, in his 30s, was questioned by Customs officers.
Investigations are ongoing, Customs said.
I n a separate discovery at Dublin Airport on Sunday, 9,300 Kent branded cigarettes were discovered in a Moldovan passenger’s bags after he flew in from Frankfurt.
Revenue said the seized cigarettes were worth about 135,000 euro and would have led to a loss to the Exchequer of 116,250 euro.
