Revenue officers have seized contraband worth more than €111,000, including counterfeit designer apparel and illegal narcotics, in operations targeting “smuggling and shadow economy activity”.
In a statement issued this morning, the tax authority confirmed that the detections were carried out across Dublin, the Midlands, and Rosslare Europort following “risk profiling and intelligence led operations”.
Revenue stated that the seizures were made over the week commencing the 19th of October, and urged the public to assist investigators.
“These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting smuggling and shadow economy activity,” the organisation said.
“If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295.”
Counterfeit items formed the most valuable single element of the haul, with officers intercepting 85 fake designer goods estimated to be worth more than €45,600.
The goods were impounded after brand representatives confirmed they breached intellectual property rights. The haul featured counterfeit clothing, footwear, and accessories from luxury labels including Burberry, Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Hermes, and Louis Vuitton, along with winter wear from Canada Goose and Moncler.
Officers also seized imitation sportswear branded Adidas, Asics, Nike, and Reebok, clothing labelled CP Company, Essential, Polo, and Stone Island, and counterfeit watches displaying Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Tag Heuer branding.
Officers also seized substantial quantities of illegal narcotics, including more than 3.1 kg of cannabis resin valued at over €18,600.
In addition, postal parcels containing over 1.1 kg of herbal cannabis, worth more than €16,500, and an array of other illicit drugs valued at more than €11,600, were intercepted arriving into the country from the UK, the US, Canada, Italy, and Spain destined for delivery to addresses across Ireland.
The substances seized included cocaine, heroin, cannabis oil, butane honey oil, edibles, synthetic cannabinoids, cannabinoid vape liquid, and assorted tablets. Consignments of specialised psychoactive substances were also intercepted, including Dutch Tusi, 5-MEO-DIPT, O-PCE, O-PCE spray, 2F-Nendck HCI, 2F-NENDCK 50MG, 2C-G05 5MG, 1CP-LSD 150MCG, and 4-HO MIPT 20MG pellets.
In addition to the counterfeit fashion and narcotics, Revenue seized tobacco products with an estimated value exceeding €16,300, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of more than €9,700.
The seized tobacco brands included Amber Leaf, Benson & Hedges, Camel, Dunhill, Horizon, John Player, Karelia, Manitou, Marlboro, Old Holborn, Ome, Silk Cut, Terea, and Winston.
Officers further confiscated more than 180 litres of alcohol, comprising beer, wine, and spirits, with an estimated value of more than €2,400. The illicit alcohol represented a potential tax loss to the State of almost €1,400.
Revenue stated that investigations into all of the detections remain ongoing.