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| Ireland Suffers Record Tobacco Smuggling |
| Source from:Tobacco Reporter 07/30/2010 |
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Tobacco smuggling has reached record levels in Ireland with more than 127 million illicit cigarettes seized so far this year, according to an Irish Times story quoting the country's Revenue Commissioners.
Last year, 200 million cigarettes were seized, but 120 million of those were taken during a single operation.
The proportion of counterfeit cigarettes within the illicit-product seizures is also on the rise, jumping from about 50 per cent last year to almost 80 per cent so far this year.
Revenue yesterday announced the results of a two-week crackdown on cigarette smuggling carried out this month and the introduction of a confidential free phone number via which members of the public can provide information about smuggling or the sale of illicit cigarettes.
Airports, freight terminals, markets, postal services and white van operators were all targeted during the blitz, which resulted in the seizure of cigarettes and tobacco worth almost €6 million.
The action resulted in four arrests, and 73 prosecutions are pending, Revenue said in a briefing.
More than half the 343,000 cigarettes seized in the post were imported from China, while the largest seizure, at Dublin Port, was of Bolton-brand cigarettes from Malaysia.
Bolton is a brand that had not previously been seen in Ireland. Enditem |
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