Arrests made following seizure over €1 million in contraband in Dublin

Revenue have seized contraband worth almost €1.4 million in Dublin following two separate intelligence-led operations on Saturday.

Revenue officers seized approximately 37kgs of herbal cannabis and approximately 10kgs of suspected ketamine with estimated values of €740,000 and €600,000 respectively, at Dublin Airport.

The illicit drugs were discovered when Revenue officers stopped and searched the baggage of passengers who had disembarked flights from New York and Amsterdam.

Two women in their 20s were arrested by An Garda Síochána and taken to a Dublin Garda Station where they are currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, and investigations are ongoing.

As a result of a seperate intelligence-led operation and with the assistance of detector dog Toby, Revenue officers also seized over 56,000 cigarettes and 1.4kgs of tobacco following the search, under warrant, of three premises in Dublin’s inner city on Saturday.

Revenue seize contraband worth almost €1.4 million in Dublin https://t.co/aGQoQueLQF pic.twitter.com/5H1lMBjOfv

— Revenue (@RevenueIE) September 4, 2023

The seized cigarettes and tobacco, of various brands, had a retail value of €45,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €35,000.

A man in his 50s was questioned and investigations are ongoing.

These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting smuggling, shadow economy activity and the supply of illegal tobacco products. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on phone number 1800 295 295.