Revenue Allocates €2.7 Million to Destroy Drugs and Smuggled Goods

Revenue spent nearly €2.7 million last year on the storage and destruction of illegal substances and smuggled goods, according to figures released under Freedom of Information laws. A significant portion of this expenditure, over 90%, was attributed to the disposal of nitrous oxide canisters, which have increasingly become a concern for authorities.

The breakdown of costs revealed that €427,000 was allocated to the storage of seized nitrous oxide, while the destruction of the gas accounted for an additional €2.05 million. In contrast, approximately €95,000 was spent on the shredding of tobacco and cigarettes, and €113,000 was dedicated to the disposal of smuggled alcohol.

Details of Seizures and Their Implications

In total, there were 19 seizures of nitrous oxide, amounting to nearly 35,000 kilograms valued at €1.28 million. Revenue also reported 169 hauls of vapes containing THC or other controlled substances, which would have fetched around €66,000 on the illicit market.

Cannabis represented the largest share of seizures, with authorities discovering 5.5 tonnes across more than 2,400 seizures that had a street value approaching €105 million. Additionally, significant quantities of cocaine and heroin were seized, with an estimated worth of €73 million recorded in 2025. The authorities also documented 16,085 seizures of amphetamines, ecstasy, and other drugs.

The smuggling of tobacco and alcohol also posed challenges, as Revenue confiscated 46.9 million cigarettes, which would have been worth approximately €42.5 million. In total, they seized around 23 tonnes of loose tobacco and almost 600,000 litres of alcohol, including over 461,000 litres of beer—the equivalent of more than 800,000 pints—along with nearly 14,000 litres of spirits and 120,000 litres of wine.

Addressing Smuggling and Illegal Trade

The figures also revealed 80 seizures of cash amounting to nearly €3 million. Revenue indicated that counterfeit goods, in violation of intellectual property laws, were also uncovered, with a potential resale value of €9.1 million. Furthermore, two seizures involved items protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Revenue emphasized its commitment to combating the smuggling of prohibited and restricted goods, stating, “Combating the smuggling of prohibited and restricted goods is, and will continue to be, a priority to Revenue.” The significant financial investment in destroying illegal substances highlights the ongoing effort to address smuggling and protect public safety.