293. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Finance the number of reports relating to the suspected import or sale of non-duty paid tobacco products which were received by the Revenue Commissioners from An Garda Síochána in each of the past five years; and how such referrals are dealt with by the Revenue Commissioners. [45139/24]

Jack Chambers, Minister for Finance: I am assured that Revenue is committed to targeting the illicit tobacco trade. It implements a range of measures to identify and target the smuggling, supply or sale of illicit tobacco products, with a view to disrupting the supply chain, seizing the products and where possible, prosecuting those involved. Revenue’s strategy also involves developing and sharing intelligence on a national, EU and international basis, the use of analytics and detection technologies and ensuring the optimum deployment of resources on a risk-focused basis. Revenue continues to adopt an agile response to this threat and continually monitors trends in the illicit tobacco trade and adjusts its actions and redeploys its resources in response to new developments or methodologies employed by the criminal gangs involved in that trade.

I am informed by Revenue that it has a close working relationship with An Garda Síochána, which includes the sharing of intelligence in relation to the suspected illicit tobacco trade. Any reports or intelligence received from An Garda Síochána is thoroughly investigated by Revenue and any appropriate action is taken. I am advised that reports and intelligence received by Revenue from An Garda Síochána are not held in a format that would facilitate the collation of the statistics requested.

The smuggling of tobacco products has a transnational and cross border dimension and in addition to Revenue’s ongoing cooperation with An Garda Síochána, I am advised that Revenue also works closely with its counterparts in other jurisdictions including colleagues in Northern Ireland through the Cross Border Joint Agency Task Force (JATF) and international bodies including OLAF (the EU’s anti-fraud agency), Europol and the World Customs Organisation.

Revenue optimises media engagement in terms of successful prosecutions, significant seizures and enforcement initiatives, ensuring the general public is aware of the commitment by Revenue to tackling the illicit cigarette and tobacco trade and to deter those involved. To further encourage the general public to engage with Revenue in its efforts targeting the shadow economy and the supply of illegal tobacco products, Revenue includes a message on all press releases relating to tobacco products notifying that businesses or members of the public can contact Revenue in confidence on the free phone number 1800 295 295 at any time.

I am pleased to acknowledge that Revenue has achieved considerable success in tackling the illicit tobacco trade. In 2023, Revenue had 5,164 seizures of cigarettes valued at €55.7m and 1,673 seizures of tobacco with an estimated value of €7.7m. To the end of September 2024, Revenue had 3,801 seizures of cigarettes valued at €74.8 million and 1,147 seizures of tobacco valued at €30.7m. Further successes, highlighting Revenue’s approach to the illicit tobacco trade include the detection and dismantling of an illicit commercial cigarette factory in Dublin in February 2024.

Revenue’s high detection rate is attributable to its multi-faceted tobacco strategy, continued cooperation and intelligence sharing with other national and international law enforcement agencies, its highly trained staff and its advanced profiling methods and strategic use of appropriate detection technology and assets, particularly its highly effective detector dogs.

I am assured that Revenue is aware of the threat that tobacco smuggling poses to health, to legitimate business interests and to the Exchequer and I commend Revenue and all the relevant State agencies for their work in this important area.