Revenue officers caught a number of illegal packages arriving in Dublin bound for seven counties thanks to two of their detector dogs.
The bust included around 12kgs of herbal cannabis, 3kgs of hash cakes, 240 grams of cannabis resin, 6,750 Zopiclone tablets, over 1,000 diazepam tablets, 800 ecstasy tablets as well as small quantities of butane honey oil, and ‘magic mushrooms.’
Specially trained sniffer dogs, Bailey and Sam made the discoveries across 40 packages that had arrived from the United States, Spain, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, United Arab Emirates, France, India, and the United Kingdom.
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According to Revenue officers, they were headed for Dublin, Galway, Cork, Meath, Limerick, Carlow, and Offaly.
They were reportedly disguised as ‘toys’, ‘tea’, ‘boxing gloves’, ‘trousers’, ‘chewing gum’, and ‘organisers.’
These seizures were made as part of Revenue's ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal drugs.
A statement said: “As part of routine operations and with the assistance of detector dogs Bailey and Sam, Revenue officers examining parcels at premises in Dublin seized illegal drugs with a combined estimated value of €272,000.
“The seizures included almost 12kgs of herbal cannabis, 3kgs of hash cakes, 240 grams of cannabis resin, 6,750 Zopiclone tablets, over 1,000 diazepam tablets, 800 ecstasy tablets as well as small quantities of butane honey oil and ‘magic mushrooms.’
“The illegal drugs were discovered in over 40 separate parcels that originated in multiple locations across North America, Europe and Asia.
“The parcels were declared as items such as ‘toys’, ‘tea’, ‘boxing gloves’, ‘trousers’, ‘chewing gum’ and ‘organisers’ and were destined for addresses across the country.”
Investigations are ongoing and officers have asked that if businesses or members of the public have any information regarding smuggling, that they contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.
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