Ireland - tobacco smuggling has reached record levels..

July 30, 2010 - Tobacco smuggling has reached record levels in Ireland with more than 127 million illicit cigarettes seized so far this year, according to the country’s Revenue Commissioners. Last year, 200 million cigarettes were seized, but 120 million of those were taken during a single operation. The proportion of counterfeit cigarettes within the illicit-product seizures is also on the rise, jumping from about 50 percent last year to almost 80 percent so far this year. (The Office of the Revenue Commissioners is the primary state body responsible for the assessment and collection of taxes and duties in the Republic of Ireland)

Ireland has the highest tobacco prices in the European Union (EU) – it costs more than twice the average.

A few directly related news briefs concerned with tobacco smuggling:
Ireland retailers claim since display ban smuggling up - denied by health campaigners..;
Ireland - Illicit tobacco trade booms..;
Ireland - increase fine for cigarettes imported illegally.. ;
Ireland - modest penalty for cigarette smuggling..;
Ireland - cigarette tax abandoned over smuggling fears..;

The Office of the Revenue Commissioners yesterday, July 28th announced the results of a two-week crackdown on cigarette smuggling carried out this month. A confidential freephone number, 1800 295295, has also been introduced for members of the public to provide information about smuggling or the sale of illegal cigarettes.

Revenue Commissioner Liam Irwin warned people who bought cigarettes on the black market that they were putting money into the hands of criminals.

“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,” he added. “These actions are not just robbing the exchequer of much needed funds, they are also hurting local businesses.”

Airports, freight terminals, markets, postal services and white van operators were all targeted during the blitz, which resulted in the seizure of cigarettes and tobacco worth almost €6 (7.8 USD) million. The action resulted in four arrests, and 73 prosecutions are pending, Revenue said in a briefing yesterday.

Some 1.3 million of the cigarettes were seized from passengers alighting from aircraft; most of these were smuggled from the Canary Islands, Poland and China, according to Tom Talbot, head of the Customs criminal investigation branch. More than half the 343,000 cigarettes seized in the post were imported from China. The largest seizure in the blitz was made near Ratoath, Co Meath, where over 10 million cigarettes were found in a trailer that came through Dublin Port, having arrived from Malaysia. The brand involved, Bolton, had never been seen before in Ireland.

Mr Irwin said there was no evidence that drug gangs or subversives had targeted tobacco smuggling, but individual criminals had switched to the trade because it was high-value and the consequences were less serious than for drug smuggling. Penalties for cigarette smuggling increased last year and Mr Irwin said he was satisfied the courts were taking the crime more seriously than before.

We are all counting on World Health Organization (WHO) to provide solution to control the booming worldwide cigarette smuggling (illicit, illegal, contraband) problem.., March 20, 2010.

Reference: Revenue opens phone line seeking information on tobacco smuggling, PAUL CULLEN, IrishTimes.com, 7/29/2010.

Some Ireland related news briefs:
Ireland - Office of Tobacco Control 2009 Annual Report..;
Ireland retailers claim since display ban smuggling up - denied by health campaigners..;
Ireland - highest tobacco prices in the EU..;
Ireland - smoking on the increase with young women in lower-income groups..;
Ireland - Illicit tobacco trade booms..;
Ireland - no increase in excise duty on tobacco products worry about smuggling..;
reland - ASH will never give up - get smoking out of cars (and homes) when kids are present..;
Ireland - harder to quit when switching to low tar cigarettes..;
Ireland - after 2004 smoking ban decline in maternal smoking rates as well as lower risk for preterm births..;
Ireland - cancer society urges government to increase cigarette tax..;
Ireland - increase fine for cigarettes imported illegally..;
Ireland - roll your own cigarettes making a comeback..;
Ireland - lots of smokers - lots of sickness - resulting in premature death - THIS HAS TO STOP..;
Ireland - people responding well to the ban on cigarette displays..;
Ireland - Prof Clancy not enough spent on prevention..;
Ireland - tobacco vendors must register by October 1, 2009..;
Children - exposed to cigarette smoke in cars have greater chance of respiratory distress..;
Ireland - tobacco companies not helping small retailers - display ban..;
Tobacco control initiatives starting Wednesday, July 1, 2009..;
Ireland - Office of Tobacco Control 2008 annual report - Positive..;
Ireland - modest penalty for cigarette smuggling..;
Ireland - to amend tobacco legislation to to include pictoral warnings..;
Ireland - as of July 1, 2009 no advertising or display of tobacco products will be permitted in retail outlets..;
Ireland - cigarette tax abandoned over smuggling fears..;
Ireland - may raise tax on cigarettes as part of emergency budget..;
Ireland - ban smoking in cars when kids are present..;
Ireland - further provisions of the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004 are to be commenced on 1 July 2009.;
Ireland - 80% of smokers want a ban on tobacco advertising in shops to stop youngsters starting the habit..;
Ireland to ban tobacco displays..;
Ireland - reduction in admissions for acute coronary syndrome...