Ireland seen as ‘easy target’ for international smugglers

International gangs consider Ireland an easy target for smuggling, and will continue to operate here if stricter measures are not enforced, a retail group has warned.

Retailers Against Smuggling (RAS), which represents around 3,000 shops in Ireland, made the claim following the publication of Revenue’s latest list of defaulters.

The list, which covers the final quarter of 2014, shows that the majority of those convicted for cigarette smuggling were foreign nationals.

“The message is clear — Ireland is still a great place to come and do business in… if your business is crime,” said RAS spokesman and shop owner Benny Gilsenan.

While some people who were convicted of smuggling faced fines of up to €4,000, Mr Gilsenan said such penalties are not effective enough to deter crime bosses.

“Most of the criminals involved in smuggling are making so much money that a few thousand euro is like small change to them. We need the Government to start coming down harder on people who repeatedly break the law and conspire to put retailers out of business.”

RAS is calling for new measures to tackle the issue and wants to see a minimum fine of €10,000 on conviction for smuggling offences.

The group also wants a ban on the sale of tobacco at fairs and markets and to increase public awareness about smuggling. It says people have a perception that buying cheap cigarettes is a victimless crime, when, in fact, by purchasing these goods, they are funding other criminal activities such as drug dealing, terrorism, and human trafficking.

Last year, more than 53m cigarettes were seized in 5,852 separate seizures, representing a total retail value of €25.5m. In addition, almost 10,000kg of tobacco was seized, worth €4.2m.

There were 111 convictions for smuggling or illegal selling of tobacco in 2014, resulting in accumulated fines of more than €200,000 — 28 custodial sentences were also imposed.

“Combating the illegal tobacco trade is, and will continue to be, a high priority for Revenue,” said a spokesperson.

“Our work against this illegal activity includes a range of measures designed to identify and target those who are engaged in the supply or sale of illicit products, with a view to seizing the illicit products and prosecuting those responsible.”

Revenue said it works closely with the gardaí and PSNI, as well as with the European Anti-Fraud Office, in tackling smuggling.

Despite staff reductions in recent years, the Department of Justice says it has not decreased the amount of personnel assigned to target and confront non-compliance. It currently has around 2,000 staff working on anti-smuggling, anti-evasion, investigations, and prosecutions.

READ MORE: Authorities ‘not ignoring cross-border smuggling’