Darren O'Rourke
Question:319. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons successfully prosecuted for tobacco and or cigarette smuggling in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [36527/23]
View answerTuesday, 25 July 2023
Questions (319)
Written answers
I am advised by Revenue that it implements a range of measures to identify and target the smuggling, supply or sale of illicit tobacco products, with a view to disrupting the supply chain, seizing the products and, where possible, prosecuting those involved. Revenue develops and shares intelligence on a national, EU and international basis, and deploys analytics and detection technologies and ensures effective risk focused deployment of resources in response to the threat and risk of tobacco smuggling.
The smuggling of tobacco products has a transnational and cross border dimension and, in addition to Revenue’s ongoing cooperation with An Garda Síochána in this area, I am advised that Revenue also works closely with its counterparts in other jurisdictions including colleagues in Northern Ireland through the Cross Border Joint Agency Task Force (JATF), and international bodies including OLAF (the EU’s anti-fraud agency), Europol and the World Customs Organisation.
I know that Revenue is strongly committed to confronting non-compliance, including tobacco smuggling. This commitment is given operational priority each year through Revenue’s business planning and delivery framework having regard to risk and national and international trends and developments within illegal trades and the modus operandi of those involved. Revenue’s actions under these operational plans are designed to maximise coordination and efficiency Revenue-wide and deliver the best impact for the effort involved and will be a key deliverable reflected in the Revenue 2023-2025 Statement of Strategy.
A breakdown of the number of persons successfully prosecuted for tobacco and/or cigarette smuggling in 2022 and to the end of June 2023 is provided below in tabular form:
|
Year |
Summary Prosecutions |
Indictable Prosecutions |
|
2022 |
20 |
4 |
|
2023 |
18 |
5 |