Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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172. To ask the Minister for Finance the progress made to date in addressing the growing problem of cigarette smuggling here; the number of seizures made and the quantity of cigarettes seized in each case during the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33380/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners, who are responsible for the collection of tobacco products tax and for tackling the smuggling and sale of illicit tobacco products, that they attach a high priority to dealing with this criminal activity. Their "Strategy on Combating the Illicit Tobacco Trade (2011-2013)", which is published on the Revenue website (www.revenue.ie), includes a range of measures designed to complement each other in targeting the supply and demand sides of the market for illicit tobacco products. This multi-faceted strategy includes ongoing analysis of the nature and extent of the problem, developing and sharing intelligence on a national, EU and international basis, ongoing review of operational policies, development of analytics and detection technologies, and optimum deployment of resources at both point of importation and inland to intercept and seize illegal products and to prosecute those involved. Interception of illicit tobacco products is achieved through a combination of risk analysis, profiling and intelligence and the screening of cargo, vehicles, baggage and postal packages. Revenue officers also target the illicit trade at the post-importation level by carrying out intelligence-based operations and random checks at retail outlets, markets and private and commercial premises.

In carrying out this important work Revenue works in close cooperation with other relevant agencies, both nationally and internationally. There is extensive cooperation between Revenue and An Garda Síochána, and the agencies concerned in the State and in Northern Ireland work closely together, through a cross-border group on tobacco enforcement, to target the organised crime groups that are responsible for a large proportion of the illegal tobacco market. In addition, cooperation takes place with other Revenue administrations and with the European Anti-Fraud Office, OLAF, in the ongoing efforts to tackle the illicit trade at international level. The following table sets out the seizure details requested by the Deputy.

* to 30th June

There has also been considerable success in detecting and prosecuting those involved in the illicit trade, with 132 convictions during 2012 and 51 convictions to date in 2013 for the smuggling or sale of illicit tobacco products.