Customs seizes €21m in drugs

ConfiscationsDrugs with an estimated value of €21 million were seized by the customs service during 2003, the Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners said yesterday.

He said the customs service also "detained" €582,000 of suspected drug-related cash and seized almost 52 million cigarettes and 4,238 kg of tobacco.

"This was another successful year in the battle against illegal drugs and other contraband," said Mr Frank Daly. "We contribute to keeping society protected from drugs."

During the year there was a total of 803 drug seizures, an increase of 143 over the previous year.

There were 65 convictions for smuggling, an increase of 22, and a further 177 convictions for other types of customs and excise offences.

There were nine detections of oil-laundering plants saving the Exchequer approximately €9 million per annum.

Mr Daly said that during 2003 customs staff were involved in an international operation that led to the seizure on board a yacht of cocaine worth approximately €45 million.

The drugs were seized by UK customs officers in Gibraltar. The two crew members were sentenced to 18 and 20 years imprisonment respectively.

During 2003 the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) paid €9.9 million in tax receipts to the Revenue. There are nine Revenue officials working full time with the CAB.

The quantity of cigarettes and tobacco seized during 2003 was down on the previous year. Checks carried out by the Revenue indicate that the penetration of the Irish market by contraband is low, according to the Revenue's 2003 annual report.

"The circumstances in which the majority of seizures were made and the brands involved continued to indicate that most of the consignments intercepted were destined for Northern Ireland."