Customs cigarettes ‘difficulty’

CUSTOMS officers are finding it “more difficult” to detect smuggled cigarettes because crime gangs are using legitimate companies as cover.

The C&AG report said that despite the seizure of vast quantities of smuggled cigarettes – 218 million in 2009 alone – it could not say this had “impacted” on the illicit trade.

The financial watchdog said Revenue had not developed a “high-level strategy” to target the illegal trade, which is depriving the state of around €200 million every year in lost duties and tax.