Customs seize €27.5k of illicit vodka and whisky

Almost 750 litres of illicit spirits including whisky and vodka worth €27,500 have been seized in raids by Revenue and Customs and gardaí in Ireland.

A total of 23 different types of spirits were uncovered in the operation, which involved several searches of residential and commercial properties in Donegal, Mayo, Roscommon and Kildare.

Beer, cigarettes, vehicles, cash and various documents were also taken during the raids.

Several people are currently being questioned in connection to the contraband and files are being prepared for prosecution.

“This operation is a result of months of painstaking investigations and co-operation between Revenue and An Garda Síochána,” said Liam Irwin, revenue commissioner, as reported by the Irish Examiner.

“Revenue is determined to disrupt this type of illegal activity and to vigorously prosecute those involved.”

In May this year, two men from Northern Ireland were jailed for smuggling 200,000 litres of alcohol into the UK, avoiding paying nearly £2 million in excise duty.

Earlier this year, UK officers arrested three people on suspicion of tax evasion in connection with an £80 million alcohol fraud scam.