Revenue seizes alcohol at Dublin Port

Revenue officers at Dublin Port seized over 530 litres of undeclared alcohol, which they found hidden in a consignment of soft drinks and snacks that had arrived into Dublin Port from Portugal today.

Routine profiling discovered the haul which has a retail value of €6,800 of which the Revenue would have lost over €3,500.

In a separate intelligence-led operation yesterday, Revenue officers in Cork carried out a search under warrant of a private premises in a town in North Cork and seized 18 litres of suspected counterfeit vodka.

They were assisted in the operation by local Gardaí, who also seized suspected counterfeit clothing items.

An Irish man in his 30s was questioned and Revenue investigations in both cases are ongoing, with a view to prosecution.

Vodka is the most commonly counterfeited alcohol. Counterfeit vodka often contains high quantities of methanol, a poisonous chemical that can cause breathing difficulties, liver damage or blindness; it can also contain isopropyl alcohol, a chemical solvent commonly found in nail varnish remover.

These recent seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the supply and sale of illegal and counterfeit alcohol in the shadow economy. Businesses or members of the public with any information regarding the smuggling or sale of illegal or counterfeit alcohol can contact Revenue in confidence on freephone 1800 295 295.