Revenue officers seized thousands of euros worth of ecstasy and alcohol at Irish facilities on Thursday.
The first bust was confirmed in Athlone by officers carrying out routine profiling.
While examining parcels, they came across a package containing almost 2.8kg of ecstasy worth around €93,000.
The drugs were disguised as ‘children’s toys’ by a sender in the Netherlands and were bound for a Dublin address.
Meanwhile, officers working at the port in Rosslare seized over 13,200 litres of smuggled alcohol coming in from Dunkirk in France.
Included in the seizure was beer, Asti Martina and Polish Mead on the Irish registered truck.
The estimated value of this seizure was around €55,000 - all of which was seized on the spot.
Investigations are ongoing into both finds.
Revenue officers confirmed the news in a statement released this afternoon, writing: “Yesterday, as a result of routine profiling, Revenue officers examining parcels at a premises in Athlone, seized almost 2.8kgs of ecstasy with an estimated value of €93,000.
“The illegal drugs were discovered in parcels labelled as ‘children’s toys’ that originated in the Netherlands and were destined for an address in Dublin.
“Separately, Revenue officers seized approximately 13,000 litres of beer, 225 litres of Asti Martina and 7 litres of Polish Mead at Rosslare Europort, following the search of an Irish registered truck that had disembarked a ferry from Dunkirk, France.
“The smuggled alcohol has an estimated retail value of more than €55,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €26,000.”
These seizures are part of Revenue's ongoing operations targeting the smuggling of illegal goods.
If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.
