Gardaí Shut Down Illegal Cigarette Factory In Dublin 11

Revenue and An Garda Síochána effectively closed an illicit cigarette factory in Dublin 11 through a combined operation. The raid, conducted on Friday, February 23rd, netted a significant haul of illicit tobacco products and raw materials.

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Details of the Raid on Illegal Cigarette Factory

Authorities discovered a staggering amount of contraband, including over 1.4 tonnes of raw tobacco, precursor components for cigarette manufacturing, and approximately 758,000 counterfeit Marlboro cigarettes ready for distribution. The estimated retail value of the seized cigarettes exceeds €630,000, representing a potential loss to the Irish Exchequer of nearly €500,000.

The operation involved Revenue officers, Gardaí, and even a canine detective – Milo, a detector dog who played a crucial role in sniffing the illicit activity. The seized equipment at the factory suggests a high-capacity operation capable of producing over 250,000 cigarettes per hour alongside pre-processing and packaging facilities.

Revenue has confirmed that investigations are ongoing, both nationally and internationally, to dismantle the network behind this illegal cigarette factory. This successful raid highlights the ongoing efforts of Irish authorities to combat the black market for tobacco products, which not only harms legitimate businesses but also deprives the government of vital tax revenue.