Ireland Case No. 14026Excise duty evasion · Co. Louth · 18 Mar 2023
Man sentenced over attempted excise evasion on 60,000 cigarettes in Drogheda
Andriejus Loginovas, a 44-year-old Lithuanian man, was detained in a customs sting after a Revenue officer responded to a Facebook ad offering cigarettes for sale. The offence took place at the M1 Retail Park in Drogheda, Co. Louth, on 18 March 2023. He pleaded guilty at Dundalk Circuit Court to attempting to evade excise duty on 60,000 cigarettes. At sentencing, reported on 10 April 2025, the judge imposed a 15-month suspended sentence, directed €2,500 to the Louth Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals within four months, and made a forfeiture order for the seized cigarettes and van.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced10 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Andriejus Loginovas pleaded guilty to attempting to evade excise duty on 60,000 cigarettes.
- Where
- The offence took place at the M1 Retail Park in Drogheda, Co. Louth.
- When
- The offence took place on 18 March 2023.
- Cause
- The Revenue investigation began after an ad was posted on Facebook offering cigarettes for sale.
- Investigation
- A customs officer arranged to buy six boxes of cigarettes for €9,000 on Messenger.
- A Lithuanian national was detained in the customs sting.
- Weapon
- No weapon is mentioned in the case.
- Other details
- The defendant opened the van boot and showed two large boxes of Minsk cigarettes that did not bear Irish tax stamps.
- He told officers he was not the owner and had been asked to deliver the cigarettes.
- He had lost his job as a mechanic during the pandemic and his marriage had broken down before the offence.
- In court
- The court heard that the total potential loss to the exchequer in excise and VAT was €37,110, while the seized goods had an estimated value of €47,400.
- Sentence
- The judge imposed a 15-month suspended sentence.
- The judge directed that €2,500 be paid to the Louth Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals within four months.
- The judge made a forfeiture order for the cigarettes and the van that were seized.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatLoginovas pleaded guilty to attempting to evade excise duty on 60,000 cigarettes. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereThe offence took place at the M1 Retail Park in Drogheda. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe offence took place on March 18th 2023. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- causeThe Revenue investigation began after an ad was posted on Facebook offering cigarettes for sale. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationA customs officer arranged to buy six boxes of cigarettes for €9,000 on Messenger. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe court heard that a Lithuanian national was detained in the customs sting. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe total potential loss to the exchequer in excise and VAT was €37,110. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a 15-month suspended sentence. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceThe judge directed that €2,500 be paid to the Louth Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals within four months. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceThe judge made a forfeiture order for the cigarettes and the van that were seized. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe defendant opened the van boot and showed two large boxes of Minsk cigarettes that did not bear Irish tax stamps. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherHe told officers he was not the owner and had been asked to deliver the cigarettes. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherHe had lost his job as a mechanic during the pandemic and his marriage had broken down before the offence. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 10 Apr2025Man detained in customs sting in Louth
Sentencing report for a 2023 excise fraud case; first article in the list about this incident, and no existing case covers it.
convicted, Andriejus Loginovas, 44, male, Lithuanian, named, non-irishAndriejus Loginovas