Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Finance if any criminal prosecutions have been taken in relation to the seizure of more than 120 million illegal cigarettes in Greenore Port, County Louth, in October 2009 and if no prosecutions have occurred, the reason for same. [16768/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners who have primary responsibility for tackling cigarette smuggling, including the investigation of related offences, that the seizure referred to by the Deputy was part of Operation Samhna which was carried out in Greenore, Co Louth, in October 2009. This operation focused on a general cargo vessel, which arrived from the Philippines carrying over 120 million illegal cigarettes concealed in the cargo of animal foodstuffs. The operation was led by Revenue's Customs Service with support from An Garda Síochána, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Irish Naval Service and the Air Corps. The seizure resulted in nine arrests by An Garda Síochána for the purpose of questioning. The arrested persons were subsequently released without charge, pending the completion of an investigation file by the Revenue Commissioners.

The investigation into this case was carried out by assigned officers from both the Revenue Commissioners and also from the European Anti Fraud Office (OLAF). The investigation required the gathering of evidence from the Philippines and involved a number of requests for Mutual Legal Assistance to the relevant authorities abroad.

The evidence gathered in this case both nationally and internationally is currently under review and a detailed file on the matter is being prepared for consideration by Revenue's legal service.