Over the past week, Revenue officers have uncovered an eclectic mix of contraband across Ireland, with seizures totalling an estimated €688,200. While the bulk of the haul included drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, some of the more unusual finds have raised eyebrows.
Among the items confiscated were a slingshot, a dagger stick, and a rifle. All were seized during an operation in the Midlands. Officials also discovered nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas, which is increasingly being misused as a recreational drug.
In another odd twist, a trove of counterfeit designer goods was seized, featuring fake versions of luxury brands like Gucci, Chanel, YSL, North Face, Ugg, Crocs, and even British and Irish Lions merchandise. A total of 467 counterfeit items were confirmed by rights holders to have infringed intellectual property laws, with a combined estimated value of over €117,000.
Drug detections included not just herbal cannabis and MDMA, but also more niche substances such as cannabis edibles, reefers, cannabis oil, Diazepam, Alprazolam, Zolpidem, and Zopiclone.
The seizures, made between June 16th and 24th, spanned Dublin, the Midlands, Kilkenny, Waterford, and Rosslare Europort. The cannabis products, worth nearly €356,000, were intercepted in parcels arriving from the USA, Belgium, Spain, and Canada, with the help of Revenue’s detector dogs, Enzo and Ciara.
Officials also confiscated nearly 20,000 litres of beer and spirits, and over 25,000 cigarettes, representing significant losses to the Exchequer.
Investigations are ongoing. Revenue is encouraging the public and businesses with information about smuggling to contact them in confidence at 1800 295 295.
