Courts / Dublin / Report
Jail for man who helped import 10 million contraband cigarettes
Summary
Graham Costigan, 42, of Santry, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for evading excise duty on ten million cigarettes imported from the Netherlands. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 16 September 2013. The operation involved six men; Costigan was the only one charged. He supplied documentation and emailed packing lists to facilitate the transport of the cigarettes from Singapore to the Netherlands and then to Ireland. He had no prior convictions and was not the principal target of the Garda operation. Judge Melanie Greally noted his good character but also his willingness to act for monetary gain. The sentence was three years with 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The State suffered no loss of duty as the haul was seized.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for man who helped import 10 million contraband cigarettes. Charges or matters: evasion of excise duty; attempted evasion of excise duty on cigarettes. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 16, 2013 Incident
- 2016-01-27 Publication
Why: Mr Bowman said his client acknowledged that he got involved in a business transaction he was suspicious of and that he strongly suspected, because of the other men involved, that cigarettes would be in the container. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: evasion of excise duty; attempted evasion of excise duty on cigarettes (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Greally said the "public interest requires that a custodial sentence be imposed" before she sentenced Costigan to three years in prison with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions.
Places mentioned
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