13-05-2025
Revenue seize cannabis, weapons, counterfeit goods, cash and more
Over the past week, Revenue officers seized contraband with an estimated value of €356,595 in various operations in Dublin, the Midlands, Wexford, Kilkenny and Laois.
The detections were made as a result of risk profiling and intelligence led operations, and alongside 5,110 zopiclone tablets, with an estimated value of over €10,200, Revenue seized a haul of cannabis, tobacco, alcohol, counterfeit goods and weapons.
Revenue seized 9.8kg of herbal cannabis, with an estimated value of over €196,000, and 2.7kg of edibles, with an estimated value of over €2,700.
The herbal cannabis and other drugs were discovered, with the assistance of detector dogs Ciara and Enzo, whilst Revenue officers were examining parcels at premises in Dublin and the Midlands. The parcels originated from India, USA, Thailand, UK, Poland, Spain and Portugal, and were destined for various addresses nationwide.
Tobacco products with an estimated value of €23,800, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €18,900 and alcohol products with an estimated value of over €1,600, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €1,100, were also seized.
The alcohol consisted of 149 litres of wine, beer, whiskey and unidentifiable unlabelled alcohol. The tobacco products seized consisted of 20,560 cigarettes and 6.4kg of tobacco, branded L&M, Sterling, Marlboro, Benson & Hedges, Richmond, Blue River, Mayfair, John Player Winston and Amber Leaf.
The tobacco and alcohol products were seized in various operations in the Midlands, Rosslare and Kilkenny, as a result of risk profiling and with the assistance of detector dogs Molly and Jasper.
18 weapons were also seized in the Midlands. The weapons consisted of pepper spray, tasers, batons, blowpipe, red flares, smoke fountains, and flashing tablets.
329 counterfeit items were seized, with an estimated value of over €97,400. 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 Versace, Crocs, Adidas, Alexander McQueen, Birkenstock, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Canada Goose, Chanel, Chloe, Christian Dior, Corteiz, Dr Martens, Fear of God, Golden Goose, Gym Shark, Gucci, Hermes, Hugo Boss, Lacoste, Louis Vuitton, Moncler, Mulberry, New Balance, Nike, North Face, ON Cloud, Palm Angels, Ralph Lauren, Rayban, Rolex, Stone Island, Stussy, Tommy Hilfiger, Ugg, Under Armour, White Fox and Yves Saint Laurent.
Last Wednesday, May 7, Revenue officers also seized €24,895 in cash during a search of property in Co. Laois. A Detention Order for the cash was subsequently granted by Judge Andrew Cody at Portlaoise District Court on May 9.
A Revenue spokesperson told the Irish Mirror that 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.'
