I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of vehicles seized by customs and excise officers in 1985 was 518. These vehicles were seized for the following reasons: evasion of excise duty and VAT payable on such vehicles; marked gas oil offences including a second or aggravated offence such as the use of a concealed tank; and vehicles being used in the conveyance of smuggled goods including excisable products such as beer, wine, spirits and tobacco or other uncustomed goods.
Because of the passage of time, a breakdown of vehicles seized under each heading is no longer available. The number of vehicles seized in 1995 was 345. The reason for seizure was as follows: