Officers from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) assisted Revenue’s Customs Service, Criminal Assets Bureau, An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland as part of an international investigation into suspected excise duty evasion. The smuggling attempt involved millions of cigarettes destined for the hidden economy in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and the UK.
In a co-ordinated operation 10 men were arrested by An Garda Siochana in Co Louth, including two men from Co Armagh.
John Whiting, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, HMRC said:
“This smuggling attempt was organised crime on a global scale. The gangs behind this form of criminality are motivated solely by greed and personal gain. Their lavish lifestyles cost the UK taxpayer alone around £3 billion per year in unpaid duty, and smuggling of this magnitude could devastate our local economies.
“Excise fraud is not a victimless crime and by working together in partnership with our colleagues in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and in the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) we can target global networks more effectively and leave those involved nowhere to hide.
“Today’s operation shows that those who think they can exploit international borders for criminal purposes and to escape justice are wrong”
The operation, targeting the suspected criminal activities of an organised crime group operating both north and south of the border involved the surveillance of a general cargo vessel M/V Anne Scan, which sailed from the Philippines on 15 September for Greenore Port, arriving on Monday 26 October, carrying a cargo declared as 'animal feed'.
The vessel was kept under surveillance, as it was suspected that a large consignment of contraband cigarettes was concealed within the cargo.
Following the discharge of part of the cargo from the vessel earlier this morning onto awaiting trucks, which were allowed onwards to the importer's premises, the multi agency task force, involving Officers of Revenues Customs Service and An Garda Siochana, moved in and raided several premises in the Co. Louth area, in addition to mounting an operation on the vessel itself. A large consignment of contraband cigarettes has been confirmed, estimated to be in excess of 120m cigarettes with a retail value of about EUR50m and a potential revenue loss of approximately EUR40m. Several individuals have been arrested at various locations by the Gardai for questioning.
The Operation in the Republic of Ireland involved Officers of Revenue's Customs Service, An Garda Síochána, The Criminal Assets Bureau, the Irish Naval Service and in Northern Ireland, Officers of HM Revenue & Customs and the PSNI with support from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). It is estimated that in excess of 150 Officers from the various Agencies participated in today's operation.
Two of the vessels that supported the operation were Revenue's Customs cutter RCC Faire and the Navy vessel LE Niamh.
Hailing the operation as a great success, Revenue Commissioner Liam Irwin said:
"The success of this operation is a credit to the close working arrangements and cooperation between the various law enforcement agencies both nationally and internationally. Criminals have no respect for national borders and international cooperation is now more essential than ever for law enforcement agencies. This is a shining example of a multi-national, multi-agency response to criminal activity and all the agencies involved should be commended for the part they played in this successful operation.”
A number of premises have been searched in the Republic of Ireland and investigations are continuing.