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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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The items seized as part of the raids in Burnfoot
Over €910,000 worth of contraband items, incuding cigarettes and tobacco worth almost half-a-million euro, have been seized following a major raid in Donegal.
Gardaí and Revenue Customs Service conducted a joint-agency search operation at a residence and adjacent yards in Burnfoot on Wednesday morning.
The raid was conducted as part of an intelligence-led operation.
Between the swoop and follow-up searches, over 530,000 cigarettes and tobacco products were discovered.
The contraband seized on Wednesday included over 338,000 cigarettes, 12.4 kg of rolling tobacco, approximately €415,000 in cash and two vehicles.
During the course of follow up searches on Thursday, a further 200,000 cigarettes were seized.
A cash counting machine, financial documentation and mobile phones were also lifted by investigators.
Gardaí are investigating suspected money laundering offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010.
“No arrests have been made at this time,” said a Garda spokesperson, but a number of individuals have been questioned.
The illicit cigarettes, of various brands, and tobacco, branded ´Flandria Virginia’, have an estimated retail value of over €496,000 representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €392,000.
Revenue officers were granted a 3-month cash detention order in respect of the cash seized, by Judge Éiteáin Cunningham at Buncrana District Court.
It is suspected that the cash is the proceeds of, or intended for use in, criminal activity and is detained by Revenue in accordance with proceeds of crime legislation.
A Revenue spokesperson said: “This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the supply and sale of illegal cigarettes and tobacco in the shadow economy.
“If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes or tobacco, they can contact Revenue in confidence on 1800 295 295.”
The investigations are ongoing.
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