Fine Gael calls for tougher fines on cigarette smugglers

Fine Gael has called for cigarette smugglers to face fines of at least €10,000.

It is estimated that a fifth of all cigarettes bought here are sold on the black market.

Around 134 million contraband cigarettes were seized by the authorities last year, but it is thought more than 820 million cigarettes go undetected annually.

Fine Gael's Justice Spokesperson Charlie Flanagan called for a new garda operation to target smuggling. He said tough penalties were required.