Officers seize €6,800 of illicit alcohol in Dublin

Revenue officers at Dublin Port have seized more than 530 litres of illegal alcohol smuggled from Portugal, estimated to be worth more than €6,800 (US$8,000k).

The alcohol was smuggled in a consignment of soft drinks and snacks, potentially evading more than €3,500 in unpaid tax.

Officers also carried out a second, separate operation in Cork where they seized 18 litres of suspected fake vodka from premises in a town to the north.

Investigations into both incidents are still under way “with a view to prosecution”, said the Irish Revenue.

Revenue said in a release: “Revenue would like to remind anyone tempted to buy cheap alcohol, tobacco or consumer goods from an irregular source of supply that there is a high possibility that they are buying counterfeit goods.

“Publicans and consumers should only purchase alcohol from reputable sources of supply.”

Revenue also highlighted that the most frequently counterfeited alcohol is vodka, which can contain high levels of methanol that can cause breathing problems, liver damage or blindness.

Anyone with information about the illicit alcohol is asked to contact Revenue in confidence on free phone number 1800 295 295.