Senator Reilly congratulates Gardaí and Revenue Commissioners on closure of illicit cigarette factory in Louth

Fine Gael Senator James Reilly has congratulated Gardaí and Revenue Commissioners on the closure of an illicit cigarette factory in Louth today (Thursday).

“I am delighted that Gardaí and Revenue Commissioners have confiscated 25 million illegal cigarettes, with a street value of €12 million, in a major operation in Co Louth.” said Dr James Reilly

Dr Reilly has just returned from Copenhagen Denmark where he was keynote speaker at the Danish Cancer Society conference, titled ‘Tobacco end game Denmark’.

“Cigarettes kill one in two smokers; that is half the people who engage in smoking. This means a staggering 7 million people die per annum from cigarette related diseases.

“Furthermore, nearly 900,000 people die from second hand smoke generated by smokers and cigarettes.

“All tobacco products contain over 4,000 chemicals, 60 of which can cause cancer.

“While smoking cigarettes is a scourge on global health, we know that illicit cigarettes are doubly dangerous, given that we have no idea what deadly chemicals they contain.

“I congratulate the Gardaí and Revenue Commissioners for their work in closing this illicit factory in Co Louth.

“Children and young people are targeted by these criminals offering illegal cigarettes at cheaper prices so they can get them addicted to tobacco at an early age. A recent survey published by Durham University found that 55% of children aged 14 and 15 who smoke say they buy illegal tobacco, and 73% say they have been offered illegal tobacco.

“We must remain eternally vigilant against illicit cigarettes but also in terms of generally reducing th numbers smoking, which kills our people indiscriminately.

“The Government has a national plan to make Ireland smoke free by 2025 (ie less than 5% smoking by 2025.)

“We must continue the fight against big tobacco and illegal tobacco for our children’s sake,” concluded Dr Reilly.