In 2009, Customs Agents in Ireland seized about 200 million cigarettes attempting to be smuggled into the country.  In previous years, Customs seized 135 million in 2008, 74 million in 2007, and 52 million in 2006.

One out of every four cigarettes sold in Ireland is believed to have been smuggled into the country.

Source:  Paul Cullen, “Tobacco smuggling ‘now epidemic’,” Irish Times, February 17, 2010.

The counterfeit drugs market in Ireland is estimated to be worth $118 Million (86 Million Euros).

Source:  Eoin Burke-Kennedy, “Thousands buying medicines online,” Irish Times, February 16, 2010.

According to the United Ireland Party, over 1,000 men in Ireland pay for sex in the country every day.

Source: “1,000 men pay for sex daily – Fine Gae,” RTE News, November 17, 2009.

Custom Officials in the United Kingdom and Ireland state that one in three cigarettes smoked in each country was smuggled into the country.

Source:  Associated Press, “Irish seize 12 million cigarettes, arrest smuggler,” BusinessWeek, November 17, 2009.

134 million cigarettes were seized by authorities in Ireland in 2008.

Source:  Michael Lavery, “800 million black market cigs smuggled in each year,” Herald, October 30, 2009.

Cigarette smuggling causes losses of up to 750 Million Euros ($1.11 Billion) in Ireland each year.

Source: Sean O’Riordan, “Cigarette smuggling ‘epidemic’,” Irish Examiner, July 25, 2009.

Based on the following estimates, the illegal drugs market in  Ireland is worth 628 Million Euros ($927 Million).

• Heroin: 54 Million Euros
• Marijuana: 370 Million Euros
• Cocaine: 75 Million Euros
• Ecstasy: 129 Million Euros

Source:  John Burke, “Boom time for dealers,” Sunday Business Post, December 9, 2007.

Up to 50 percent of all DVDs sold in Ireland are estimated to be pirated copies, according to the Irish National Federation Against Copyright Theft (Infact).

Source:  Press Association, “50% of DVD sales ‘going to pirates’,” Google News, September 29, 2009.