Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of cigarettes, tobacco products, illegal tablets, offensive weapons and so on that have been seized by Customs and Excise for the years 2008 to 2011 inclusive; the number of successful convictions obtained in each of these years for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9705/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Revenue Commissioners are the State agency with primary responsibility for the control of imports and exports. They are also responsible for the collection of all taxes and duties, including tobacco products tax, and for tackling the illicit trade in cigarettes and tobacco products and for prosecuting those involved. The Commissioners also enforce import and export prohibitions and restrictions on other commodities, including those relating to controlled drugs and medicines and firearms and other offensive weapons. The following table lists the quantities of cigarettes and tobacco products seized by Revenue for the years 2008 to 2011 and the convictions obtained in these years for both the smuggling and sale of illicit tobacco products.

The following table lists the quantities of controlled drugs and medicines and firearms and other offensive weapons seized by Revenue for the years 2008 to 2011. Under agreed protocol the prosecution of individuals for import offences involving these commodities is primarily a matter for An Garda Síochána.