SOME 31.5 MILLION illegal cigarettes have been seized by Irish customs officers so far this year.
The black market cigarettes, which were seized from 1 January to 28 May, had a retail value of over €15.5 million, according to new Revenue figures.
‘Don Corleone’ cigarettes were the most smuggled brand after a major seizure that saw 10.3 million of its cigarettes confiscated back in March.
They had arrived in Dublin Port from Belgium with a retail value of €4.7 million.
‘Dorchester’ cigarettes were the second most smuggled after Thursday’s seizure of over 9 million of the brand’s cigarettes, estimated to be worth above €4.5 million, at Dublin Port.
The other most confiscated brands included Manchester (7.6 million), Marlboro (449,221), Septwolves (252,752) and Benson & Hedges (222,864).
Some 53.4 million cigarettes and 9,824 kilos of tobacco, valued at €25.47 million and €4.22 million respectively, were seized in 2014.
In a statement, Revenue said it is committed to combating the illegal tobacco trade through “a range of measures designed to identify and target those who are engaged in the supply or sale of illicit products”.
Surveys of smokers by IPSOS MRBI, carried out for Revenue and the National Tobacco Control Office of the Health Services Executive, show that the consumption of illicit cigarettes has fallen from 15% in 2009 to 11% in 2013, suggesting that the consumption of illicit cigarettes is being contained.
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