Revenue seize smuggled cigarettes in Limerick and Dublin

Revenue officers have seized more than 18,000 cigarettes in Limerick and Dublin.

The smuggled cigarettes came from Bulgaria and Ukraine and were found by Revenue Officers in Athlone and Portlaoise Mail Centres.

In the first of two follow-up operations, Revenue Officers helped by detector dog Harvey searched a house in Newcastle West, Co. Limerick.

They interviewed a Lithuanian man and seized 8,880 cigarettes branded NZ Gold.

In the second operation, Revenue officers searched a house in Dublin, where they interviewed a Bulgarian man and seized 10,000 cigarettes, branded Marlboro and Karelia.

The cigarettes,with a total retail value of over €9,400 represented a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €7,800.