Counterfeit cigarettes worth estimated €10m seized

COUNTERFEIT cigarettes worth an estimated €10 million were seized during an operation in West Dublin yesterday.

The operation was conducted by members of the Detective Units in Clondalkin and Rathcoole and the Clondalkin Tasking Unit, with assistance from Revenue Customs Officers.

According to a Garda statement issued: “As part of Operation Tara, gardai have carried out a search under warrant of a yard in West Dublin, yesterday evening, Tuesday, 4th July 2023.

“During the course of this search a trailer containing boxes of counterfeit cigarettes was recovered.

“The estimated value of these cigarettes is €10 million with a loss to the Exchequer of €7.5 million.”

A trailer containing counterfeit cigarettes was recovered (An Garda Siochana)

The counterfeit cigarettes were taken for analysis by Revenue Customs.

No arrests were made during the operation and investigations are ongoing, garda said.