Sharp decline in seizures of illegal cigarette products

Seizures of illegal tobacco products have dramatically dropped in Ireland this year, despite the fact around 14% of all cigarettes sold here are counterfeit.

Figures from Finance Minister Michael Noonan show in 2009, 218.5 million cigarettes were seized, compared with just 95.6m in 2012, and it’s understood the figure will be considerably lower for 2013.

Garda and Revenue sources believe criminals are using more sophisticated modes of transport and smuggling illegal tobacco products in smaller individual amounts which is making them harder to detect.