Over €2m in fake cash, drugs, and tobacco seized by Revenue in week-long crackdown

Illegal tobacco, counterfeit euros, cannabis, and illicit alcohol intercepted in coordinated operations across Dublin, Midlands, and Rosslare

Illicit drugs and other items seized during recent Revenue operations. Picture: Revenue

Customs officials have seized more than €2 million worth of counterfeit euro notes, cannabis, illicit alcohol, tablets, and 2,000kg of tobacco in operations over the past week.

The contraband, with an estimated value of €2,051,630, was seized as a result of risk profiling and intelligence-led operations in Dublin, the Midlands, and Rosslare Europort.

Among the items seized were:

• 4.18kg of herbal cannabis, valued at over €82,000 
• Various illicit tablets, valued at over €24,000 
• Other illegal drugs, valued at almost €7,000 
• Counterfeit euro notes worth €24,330 
• Nearly 86 litres of illicit alcohol, valued at almost €1,700, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of €1,000 
• 2,000kg of tobacco, valued at over €1.75m, with a potential Exchequer loss exceeding €1.33m 
• 1,800 cigarettes, valued at over €1,600, with a potential Exchequer loss of more than €1,200 
• 424 counterfeit items, valued at over €161,000

The tobacco was seized on Thursday, June 26, at Dublin Port. A man was charged and has since appeared in court.

Fake euro notes seized in Dublin. Picture: Revenue

The herbal cannabis was discovered during Revenue examinations of parcels at premises in Dublin and the Midlands. The consignments originated in the USA, Poland, Spain, and Canada, and were destined for addresses across Ireland.

The cigarettes and alcohol were seized during separate operations in the Midlands and Rosslare, while the counterfeit euro notes were uncovered in Dublin. Four weapons were also seized in the Midlands.

A Revenue spokesperson said investigations into all the seizures are ongoing.