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25/03/2002
Customs seize 15 million cigarettes at Belfast docks
Customs officers have seized nearly 15 million smuggled cigarettes which were intercepted at Belfast Port.
Customs officials said they believed the duty free cigarettes, which were intercepted in a consignment of clay pots from Holland, would have been sold illegally in both Northern Ireland and the Republic.
The smuggled cigarettes would have cost the taxpayer around £2.5 million in lost revenue.
The latest seizure is part of Customs’ major crackdown on tobacco smuggling and follows hard on the heels of last week’s seizure of three million cigarettes at Larne Port.
A Customs spokesperson said: “Last week it was duty free cigarettes in a consignment of Bulgarian matches, this week it’s clay pots. These latest seizures highlight our ability to detect these illegal consignments, however the smugglers try to disguise them.
“Tobacco smuggling takes revenue away from the local economy and into the hands of a few criminals. The illegal sale of duty free cigarettes also means less money for schools and hospitals.”
In March 2000, the Government invested £209 million into tackling tobacco smuggling. The investment aims to put cigarette smuggling into decline within three years.
A £3 million publicity campaign was launched in September 2000 to raise general public awareness of tobacco smuggling as well as sending hard messages to smugglers and potential smugglers.
(AMcE)
Customs officials said they believed the duty free cigarettes, which were intercepted in a consignment of clay pots from Holland, would have been sold illegally in both Northern Ireland and the Republic.
The smuggled cigarettes would have cost the taxpayer around £2.5 million in lost revenue.
The latest seizure is part of Customs’ major crackdown on tobacco smuggling and follows hard on the heels of last week’s seizure of three million cigarettes at Larne Port.
A Customs spokesperson said: “Last week it was duty free cigarettes in a consignment of Bulgarian matches, this week it’s clay pots. These latest seizures highlight our ability to detect these illegal consignments, however the smugglers try to disguise them.
“Tobacco smuggling takes revenue away from the local economy and into the hands of a few criminals. The illegal sale of duty free cigarettes also means less money for schools and hospitals.”
In March 2000, the Government invested £209 million into tackling tobacco smuggling. The investment aims to put cigarette smuggling into decline within three years.
A £3 million publicity campaign was launched in September 2000 to raise general public awareness of tobacco smuggling as well as sending hard messages to smugglers and potential smugglers.
(AMcE)
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19 November 2003
Customs seize over six million cigarettes in Co Armagh
Customs officers have uncovered over six million smuggled cigarettes in Co Armagh. The container-load was seized during an operation in Moy on Friday evening after the Dorchester brand cigarettes had been shipped from Malaysia.
Customs seize over six million cigarettes in Co Armagh
Customs officers have uncovered over six million smuggled cigarettes in Co Armagh. The container-load was seized during an operation in Moy on Friday evening after the Dorchester brand cigarettes had been shipped from Malaysia.
20 August 2002
Customs net £1.5m haul of smuggled cigarettes
Customs officers have seized 8.5 million illegal cigarettes with an estimated value of £1.5 million. The consignment of cigarettes was seized after Customs investigators carried out a routine check of a container vessel at Warrenpoint on Saturday night. The Antigua and Barbuda registered cargo vessel ‘Emma’ had departed from Rotterdam.
Customs net £1.5m haul of smuggled cigarettes
Customs officers have seized 8.5 million illegal cigarettes with an estimated value of £1.5 million. The consignment of cigarettes was seized after Customs investigators carried out a routine check of a container vessel at Warrenpoint on Saturday night. The Antigua and Barbuda registered cargo vessel ‘Emma’ had departed from Rotterdam.
15 March 2002
Customs seize illegal cigarettes at Larne port
Customs officers have seized nearly three million duty free cigarettes concealed in a consignment of Bulgarian matches arriving at the Port of Larne via Liverpool.
Customs seize illegal cigarettes at Larne port
Customs officers have seized nearly three million duty free cigarettes concealed in a consignment of Bulgarian matches arriving at the Port of Larne via Liverpool.
30 January 2019
Almost Five Million Cigarettes Seized By Police
A significant haul of nearly five million cigarettes and almost 700kg of tobacco has been seized as part of a major operation by police and customs officers in Northern Ireland. The illicit material, worth an estimated £1.9m in duty and taxes that would have been lost, was uncovered during searches in the Banbridge, Carryduff and Ballyclare areas.
Almost Five Million Cigarettes Seized By Police
A significant haul of nearly five million cigarettes and almost 700kg of tobacco has been seized as part of a major operation by police and customs officers in Northern Ireland. The illicit material, worth an estimated £1.9m in duty and taxes that would have been lost, was uncovered during searches in the Banbridge, Carryduff and Ballyclare areas.
09 November 2001
Customs seize record consignment of illegal cigarettes
Customs and Excise officers in Northern Ireland have intercepted what is the largest ever consignment of smuggled cigarettes in the UK following the detainment of a ship at Warrenpoint.
Customs seize record consignment of illegal cigarettes
Customs and Excise officers in Northern Ireland have intercepted what is the largest ever consignment of smuggled cigarettes in the UK following the detainment of a ship at Warrenpoint.
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