A special cross-border force should be set up to tackle the smuggling of fuel, cigarettes, and alcohol, and tougher laws introduced in both jurisdictions, a British-Irish parliamentary report has recommended.
A full-time combined force of police, revenue, customs and environmental agencies is needed to crack down on crime lords and dissident republicans who exploit the border regions, the report says.
Tougher laws must also be introduced to go after ‘phoenix’ companies linked to smuggling, which evade prosecution by transferring assets into other companies or changing their directors.
The Irish Examiner has obtained details of the inquiry carried out by a committee with the British-Irish parliamentary assembly. Its report on cross-border police co-operation and illicit trade will be launched today.
Law enforcement agencies including police chiefs, revenue, and ministers for justice from both jurisdictions were among those consulted about how to stop the smuggling by gangs exploiting the border regions.
Its inquiry examined how commodities that attract high taxes are the focus of smuggling gangs, particularly tobacco, alcohol, fuel, and stolen vehicles.
In the Republic of Ireland, taxes account for 78% of the price of a packet of cigarettes and over 50% of the price of a litre of diesel.
Source: Juno McEnroe, Irish Examiner, 23/02/15
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