Revenue's canine pal fails to smoke out illegal cigarettes at market

Chips, the Revenue Commissioners' tobacco-sniffing dog, visited the Fair Green in Navan last Friday to check that there was no illicit dealing in cigarettes taking place at the town's weekly market. The Revenue presence at the Navan Market on Friday was part of its strategy to combat the smuggling and sale of illicit tobacco, the Commissioners said, adding that it demonstrates a focus on retail outlets, markets and local distribution networks. Revenue said Friday's operation was a follow-up to recent compliance visits to retail outlets in Navan to ensure that only legitimate tobacco products are on sale. A spokesperson said: "The public also have an important role to play here and we would urge any members of the public or businesses who have information in relation to the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes to contact us in confidence on freephone number 1800 295 295." Revenue Commissioner Liam Irwin said: "Anyone tempted to buy cheap cigarettes from an irregular source of supply must realise that there is a high possibility that they are buying counterfeit goods, which provide an unknown additional set of health risks as the product is not the subject of quality control. These actions are not just robbing the exchequer of much-needed funds, they are also hurting local businesses. Of course, buying smuggled cigarettes is also putting money into the hands of criminals." Revenue's new illicit tobacco strategy is underpinned by annual action plans. The strategic level plans include taking steps to ensure that the legitimate trade remains compliant, delivering more effective and visible interventions through enhanced capability and better deployment of Revenue resources, further development of co-operation and intelligence sharing at national and international level, a commitment to prosecute all serious cases of tobacco tax evasion and a focus, in partnership with other government agencies, on reducing the demand for contraband tobacco. The Revenue Commissioners say that the modus operandi for smuggling cigarettes and tobacco products into Ireland remains broadly unchanged. A number of criminal gangs and individuals located both within and outside the State continue to engage in this smuggling, as Ireland remains an attractive destination on account of high taxes and prices. International co-operation with other tax and customs administrations is an essential element in Revenue's response, the spokesperson said. During 2011, Revenue's Customs Service seized a total of 109 million cigarettes in 10,581 seizures. Commercial quantities in maritime freight traffic accounted for 76.4 million cigarettes, of which more than 22 million were counterfeit and a further 53 million were 'illicit whites', cigarettes which are largely manufactured for the purpose of being smuggled into another country. Revenue also seized 11,158kg of tobacco in 2011. Revenue said it continued with its successful programme of nationwide blitz-type operations during 2011. Over 19 million cigarettes, 1,344kgs tobacco and 49 vehicles were seized in the course of six operations. In addition, six arrests were made. On Friday in Navan, however, Chips went home empty-pawed.