Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 March 2013
59. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the amount of cigarettes and tobacco products that were seized by Customs and Excise at Dublin Airport for the years 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13382/13]
View answerI am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the amounts of cigarettes and tobacco products that were seized by their staff at Dublin Airport in 2012 and to date in 2013 are as follows:
2012
Amount – Cigarettes 14,283,604
Amount – Tobacco 1,760.06 Kgs
2013
Amount – Cigarettes 2,259.9
Amount – Tobacco 418.18 Kgs
These figures include seizures by both Revenue’s Customs staff at the Airport and their staff in the Airmail Unit in the Airport.
Combatting the illegal tobacco trade is, and will continue to be, a very high priority for the Revenue Commissioners. The Commissioners’ “Strategy on Combating the Illicit Tobacco Trade (2011-2013)”, which is published on the Revenue website (www.revenue.ie), includes a wide range of measures designed to target those engaged in the supply and sale of illicit tobacco products, and significant resources will be devoted to this issue in 2013.
This multifaceted strategy includes:
- the ongoing analysis of the nature and extent of the problem,
- developing and sharing intelligence on a national, EU and international basis,
- the ongoing review of operational policies by a high-level group within Revenue that is chaired by one of the Commissioners personally,
- the development of analytics and detection technologies, and
- the optimum deployment of resources at both point of importation and within the country to intercept and seize contraband products and to prosecute those involved.
