Revenue seize weapons, drugs, alcohol and tobacco in various operations
Revenue officers seized contraband with an estimated value of €126,600 in various operations in Dublin, the Midlands and Rosslare Europort over the last week.
The detections were made as a result of risk-profiling and intelligence-led operations, and included 1.79kg of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of over €31,570, 300 tabs of oxycontin, with an estimated value of over €12,600 and various other illicit drugs with an estimated value over €16,500.
The herbal cannabis was discovered with the assistance of detector dog Enzo, while Revenue officers were examining parcels at premises in Dublin. The parcels originated from the USA, France and Canada, and were destined for various addresses nationwide.
The various illicit drugs consisted of cannabis oil, cannabis resin, edibles, cocaine, magic mushrooms, synthetic cannabinoids, various tablets, grow kits containing psilocybin, HHC, THC gummies, as well as salvia.
Revenue also seized tobacco products with an estimated value of over €5,400, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of almost €4,300, nearly 78 litres of alcohol with an estimated value of over €1,480, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of €915 and 232 counterfeit items with an estimated value of over €58,650.
The alcohol consisted of wine, beer and spirits. The tobacco products consisted of 5,000 cigarettes and almost 0.69kg of tobacco, branded Septwolves, Winston, JPS Blue, Benson and Hedges and Golden Virginia.
The tobacco and alcohol products were seized in various operations in the Midlands and Rosslare. 40 weapons were also seized in the Midlands. The weapons consisted of smoke bombs, bullets, a flick knife and a slingshot.
The counterfeit goods were seized as they were confirmed by the Rights Holder to have infringed on Intellectual Property Rights.
The counterfeit goods were branded Adidas, Asics, Amiri, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Chloe, Dr Martens, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Lacoste, On Cloud, Ralph Lauren, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger, Versace, Ray-Ban and Stone Island.
A spokesperson for Revenue said investigations into all seizures are ongoing.
They added: "These seizures are part of Revenue's ongoing operations targeting smuggling and shadow economy activity. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295."
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