Almost three million smuggled cigarettes destined for both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have been seized in Co Antrim, reports the Belfast Telegraph. The duty-free cigarettes were discovered in a consignment of Bulgarian matches.
This haul is the latest in a line of successes for Customs in Ireland's northern six counties. More than half a million cigarettes and over 100 kilos of rolling tobacco were seized at Belfast airport last week.
Moderator Comment: What can be done about the black market and counterfeiting by retailers, manufacturers and associated organizations?
The loss of sales and profits due to illegal activity is a major security issue.
Every year in the United States alone, $200 billion is lost on trademark counterfeiting schemes according to the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC).
[George
Anderson - Moderator]