From next week, a huge clamp down will come into effect on tobacco imports for personal use. Authorities are warning people coming back from travels, that if they exceed the permitted limit on cigarettes, their entire supply will be confiscated. Stricter Revenue rules will by coming into place from December 9th, and are part of a wider crackdown on illegal activity.
Passengers arriving by air or ferry from EU countries may bring up to 800 duty-paid cigarettes and one kilogram of tobacco. These amounts, already outlined in existing regulations, serve as guidelines to determine whether the tobacco being brought in is for personal use. Under the tightened rules, going over these limits will be taken as definitive evidence that the products are not for private use, resulting in the entire amount being confiscated.
The Head of Customs at Dublin Airport, Michael Gilligan, says they’re adopting a stricter approach from next week. He said, "if they're over the limits, all the tobacco products will be seized. If they're significantly over that limit, and depending on what happens during interview with the individual, then anything up to prosecution can happen".
Gilligan also added that they’re not just cracking down on holidaymakers, but organised criminals too. He said "every month here in Dublin Airport, we probably have greater than three-hundred seizures of cigarettes, over ten seizures of cigarettes every day".
