Fake tan and cigars see prison shops earn €7.5m

Sales of fake tan and Corona cigars in tuck shops around the country’s prison system contributed to revenues of more than €7.5m.

According to figures provided by the Department of Justice, the three busiest tuck shops are located at Mountjoy, the Midlands, and Wheatfield prisons, with each one generating revenues of more than €1m last year.

Tuck shops operate a monopoly on the trade of cigarettes, soft drinks, newspapers, sweets and crisps in the prisons and figures show the 13 tuck shops across the prison system enjoyed combined profits of €834,655 in the 12 months to the end of December last.