A survey commissioned by JTI Ireland found that 57% of cigarette packs

Same storyLater: A survey of discarded cigarette packs in Irish towns and cities, commissioned by JTI IrelaLater: A survey of discarded cigarette packs commissioned by Japan Tobacco International Ireland Each entry records what was published on its own date and is not edited afterwards.

What this entry found

ONE SOURCE, MANY MASTHEADS
7 outlets carried this. They resolve to 6 independent sources.
A reader sampling these outlets received 6 accounts, not 7.
ONLY ONE OUTLET HAD THIS
leinsterleader.ie carried 3 details no other outlet reported.
- In Naas, 51% of cigarette packs surveyed in 2026 were NIDP, with 14% being counterfeit
- In Leixlip, 48% of cigarette packs surveyed were NIDP and 16% were counterfeit
- In Newbridge, 53% of packs surveyed were NIDP and almost one-fifth (19%) were counterfeit

7outlets→6independent

What happened, for context

A survey commissioned by JTI Ireland found that 57% of cigarette packs surveyed nationwide in 2026 were non-Irish duty-paid (NIDP), with 14% being counterfeit. The survey, called the Empty Pack Survey, identified significant regional variation, with Galway recording the highest rate at 75% NIDP and Swords at 66%. JTI Ireland claims the state has lost approximately €5 billion in tax revenue to NIDP products since 2018, including €1 billion in 2025.

Who reported it

- anglocelt.ieUNCLASSIFIED
- westmeathindependent.ieUNCLASSIFIED
identical copy
dundalkdemocrat.ieUNCLASSIFIED
leinsterleader.ieUNCLASSIFIED
lmfm.ieUNCLASSIFIED
retailnews.ieUNCLASSIFIED
roscommonherald.ieUNCLASSIFIED

References

anglocelt.ieSixty per cent of cigarette packs avoided Irish tax, research findsScreenshot as published Originalcaptured 2026-08-13T14:08:52
dundalkdemocrat.ieNew research finds 57% of cigarette packs in Dundalk avoided Irish taxScreenshot as published Originalcaptured 2026-08-13T15:17:53
leinsterleader.ieNew research finds 51% of cigarette packs in Naas avoided Irish taxScreenshot as published Originalcaptured 2026-08-13T14:08:52
lmfm.ieNew Research finds 60% of cigarette packs in Navan avoided Irish taxScreenshot as published Originalcaptured 2026-08-13T14:08:52
retailnews.ieNew Research finds 57% of cigarette packs in Ireland avoided Irish taxScreenshot as published Originalcaptured 2026-08-13T15:17:53
roscommonherald.ieNew research finds 53% of cigarette packs in Athlone avoided Irish taxScreenshot as published Originalcaptured 2026-08-13T14:08:52
westmeathindependent.ieSixty per cent of cigarette packs avoided Irish tax, research findsScreenshot as published Originalcaptured 2026-08-13T14:08:52

Carried by multiple outlets

The Empty Pack Survey found that 57% of cigarette packs surveyed nationwide in Ireland in 2026 were non-Irish duty-paid (NIDP)dundalkdemocrat.ie, leinsterleader.ie, retailnews.ie, roscommonherald.ie
Of the NIDP packs, 14% were counterfeit cigarettesdundalkdemocrat.ie, leinsterleader.ie, lmfm.ie, retailnews.ie, roscommonherald.ie
The survey was carried out on behalf of JTI Irelanddundalkdemocrat.ie, leinsterleader.ie, lmfm.ie, retailnews.ie, roscommonherald.ie, anglocelt.ie, westmeathindependent.ie
Since 2018, the Irish exchequer has lost approximately €5 billion in tax revenue to NIDP productsdundalkdemocrat.ie, leinsterleader.ie, lmfm.ie, retailnews.ie, roscommonherald.ie
Around €1 billion was lost in 2025 alonedundalkdemocrat.ie, leinsterleader.ie, lmfm.ie, retailnews.ie, roscommonherald.ie
According to Government figures, €758 million was lost specifically to illegal tobacco productsdundalkdemocrat.ie, leinsterleader.ie, lmfm.ie, retailnews.ie, roscommonherald.ie
and 7 more, not shown

Reported by one outlet only

In Dundalk specifically, 57% of cigarette packs surveyed in 2026 were NIDP, with 17% being counterfeitonly dundalkdemocrat.ie
In Drogheda, almost a third (30%) of cigarette packs surveyed were NIDP and 12% were counterfeitonly dundalkdemocrat.ie
In Naas, 51% of cigarette packs surveyed in 2026 were NIDP, with 14% being counterfeitonly leinsterleader.ie
In Leixlip, 48% of cigarette packs surveyed were NIDP and 16% were counterfeitonly leinsterleader.ie
In Newbridge, 53% of packs surveyed were NIDP and almost one-fifth (19%) were counterfeitonly leinsterleader.ie
In Navan, 60% of cigarette packs surveyed in 2026 were NIDP, with nearly one-fifth (17%) being counterfeitonly lmfm.ie

Reported unevenly

Tax revenue loss attributed to illegal tobacco products in 2025: anglocelt.ie and westmeathindependent.ie quote JTI Ireland as claiming €1 billion was lost in 2025 alone, while also citing Government figures of €750 million in lost taxes in 2025 from illegal tobacco products. Other outlets cite €758 million from Government figures.stated by anglocelt.ie states '€1 billion was lost in 2025 alone' and 'The Government's own figures show that illegal tobacco products cost the state over €750 million in lost taxes in 2025 alone', westmeathindependent.ie states the same, dundalkdemocrat.ie states '€758 million was lost specifically to illegal tobacco products', leinsterleader.ie states '€758m was lost specifically to illegal tobacco products', lmfm.ie states '€758 million was lost specifically to illegal tobacco products', retailnews.ie states '€750 million' initially then '€758 million' in the quote section (unclear which appears), roscommonherald.ie states '€758 million was lost specifically to illegal tobacco products'
Counterfeit cigarettes in Dundalk: dundalkdemocrat.ie states 17% of packs surveyed in Dundalk were counterfeit, but states nationwide the figure was 14%. Other outlets consistently state nationwide counterfeit rate at 14% without reporting Dundalk-specific figures.stated by dundalkdemocrat.ie reports 17% counterfeit in Dundalk · absent from leinsterleader.ie, lmfm.ie, retailnews.ie, roscommonherald.ie