It is understood that Revenue’s Customs Service officers, along with gardaí, have seized cigarettes, spirits, beer, vehicles and cash thought to be worth in the region of €300,000.
It is believed that the retail value of the cigarettes seized, which included ‘Marlboro Red’, ‘West’, ‘L&M’ and ‘WZ Gold,’ is worth in the region of €238,000. The retail value of the 23 varieties of spirits, which included vodka and whiskey,is thought to be €27,200. Officers also say that various documents were also seized in the operation.
Customs and Revenue say that the operation involved a number of searches of both residential and commercial premises, under warrant, in Donegal, Mayo, Roscommon and Kildare. Gardai say that a number of people are being questioned and files are being prepared for the DPP.
Meanwhile the Revenue Commissioner Liam Irwin made a statement saying: “This operation is a result of months of painstaking investigations and co-operation between Revenue and An Garda Síochána. “Revenue is determined to disrupt this type of illegal activity and to vigorously prosecute those involved.”