Thursday 5 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 29996Excise duty evasion (smuggling of cigarettes) · Co. Dublin

Three arrested over cigarette smuggling at Dublin Airport

Revenue officers seized 300,000 cigarettes with an estimated retail value of €210,000 from passengers arriving from Amsterdam and Athens at Dublin Airport in mid-September 2021. The searches were carried out as part of routine profiling, with detector dogs Maggie and Wilson assisting officers. A Latvian national in his 50s, a UK national in his 40s, and a UK national in her 20s were arrested. Investigations into the excise duty evasion are ongoing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested21 Sep
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • 300,000 cigarettes of brands B&H, Kent, and NZ Gold were seized at Dublin Airport.
  • The smuggled cigarettes had an estimated retail value of €210,000 and a potential loss to the Exchequer of €167,000.
Where
The cigarettes were found in the baggage of passengers who had flown from Amsterdam and Athens.
When
The seizures took place over the course of the week before 21 September 2021.
Investigation
  • The searches were carried out as a result of routine profiling.
  • Detector dogs Maggie and Wilson helped officers with the search.
  • Investigations were ongoing at the time of the report.
Other details
  • A Latvian national in his 50s was arrested.
  • A UK national in his 40s was arrested.
  • A UK national in her 20s was arrested.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • what300,000 cigarettes were seized at Dublin Airport. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe smuggled cigarettes had an estimated retail value of €210,000. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe potential loss to the Exchequer was €167,000. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe searches were carried out as a result of routine profiling. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationDetector dogs Maggie and Wilson helped officers with the search. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations were ongoing at the time of the report. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherA Latvian national in his 50s was arrested. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherA UK national in his 40s was arrested. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherA UK national in her 20s was arrested. (dublinlive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Sep2021
    Arresteddublinlive.ie, first report
    Three arrested after 300,000 cigarettes seized at Dublin Airport

    First report of the seizure and arrests. Details the nationality and age of the three arrested, the cigarette brands, the origin airports, the value, and the involvement of detector dogs.

    suspect, 50s, male, Latvian, non-irishsuspect, 40s, male, non-irishsuspect, 20s, female, non-irish