Ireland: Criminals Running Sophisticated Tobacco Operation

Source from:  Evening Echo 11/12/2014

Criminals are importing tobacco on the cheap to Cork and are putting it in to packets belonging to well-known brands.

Customs are warning that this tobacco is often mixed with other substances to make it go further.

Special machines are used to wrap the packets in cellophane, to make the product look genuine to the customer when it's sold on the black market.

In one recent Cork seizure, equipment used to pack, roll-your-own tobacco with cellophane was found.

Nobody has yet been charged and a file has been sent to the DPP.

Equipment to actually make cigarettes from tobacco is also being used by criminals operating illegal cigarette supply networks here.
Almost 140kgs of tobacco and 1.1 million cigarettes have been seized in Cork airport and Cork port since January 2013.
In the recent budget, the price of 20 cigarettes rose to €10.

There is concern that the hike could lead more people to seek cheaper cigarettes and tobacco on the black market.

Currently, the typical price of a packet of 20 cigarettes on the black market is €4. Enditem