Detector dog sniffs out large consignment of cigarettes at Dublin Port

The Revenue Commissioners’ detector dog, Waffle, has helped uncover 80,000 cigarettes which were smuggled into Dublin Port.

The seized cigarettes, branded ‘Marlboro Gold’, were detected in a consignment originating in Poland. Revenue said they had a retail value of €60,000, representing a potential loss to the exchequer of approximately €47,100.

It is the latest seizure involving Waffle, who has helped uncover millions of euro in drugs and contraband at the port over the past 12 months or so.

Revenue has a total of 25 detector dogs and the canine unit includes springer spaniels, cocker spaniels, brittany spaniels, labradors and mongrels.

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On Wednesday, as part of separate and routine operation, Revenue officers examining parcels at a premises in Athlone also seized over 2 kgs of illegal drugs, including herbal cannabis and cannabis resin.

The drugs, with a combined estimated value of over €40,000, were discovered concealed in a parcel that originated in Italy and was destined for an address in Dublin.

Investigations are ongoing in both cases.

Revenue said the seizures form part of its ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal drugs and the shadow economy.

Separately, Customs officers seized a package which contained suspected cannabis herb with an estimated value of almost €100,000 in Athy, Co Kildare, on Friday.

It was part of an investigation targeting organised crime groups operating in the Kildare area.

The joint intelligence-led operation was conducted by the Garda’s national drugs and organised crime bureau, the Kildare divisional drugs unit and the Revenue Commissioners Customs Service.

Gardaí arrested a male and a female at the scene and they are being detained for questioning at Kildare Garda station.