DUBLIN: Three people have been arrested after revenue officers in Cork seized a large quantity of illegal cigarettes and counterfeit tobacco.
As part of an ongoing operation into the sale and distribution of unstamped tobacco in Cork, revenue officers seized 12,400 unstamped cigarettes and 1 kg of unstamped hand-roll tobacco.
The cigarettes, branded ‘Excellence’, and the tobacco, branded ‘Flandria’, was discovered when a truck was stopped and searched.
The truck was also seized as it had been used to transport the contraband.
During a follow up operation, detection dog Harvey uncovered more cigarettes and tobacco in a shop and two private residences on the north side of the city.
Revenue say the seized product is worth in excess of €7,000, with a potential loss to the Exchequer of €5,500.
Three Irish nationals, in their 20s, 40s and 50s have been questioned and revenue said: “investigations are ongoing with a view to prosecution.”
“These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing enforcement operations targeting the illegal importation, supply and sale of tobacco products.”
