Homeless woman, aged 60, caught bringing thousands of illegal cigarettes into Ireland

A 60-year-old Canadian-Italian woman has slept in homeless accommodation and bus shelters since being caught last month evading excise duty on cigarettes at Dublin Airport, a court has heard.

Antonia Giuliana Pintus, who has a previous address in Rome, Italy, was caught by custom officials with 19,920 cigarettes in her luggage with no Irish tax stamps after arriving in Dublin on a flight from Dubai. She spent 12 days in custody before being granted bail.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Pintus, who has no previous convictions, had fallen into financial difficulties in Italy and agreed to bring the cigarettes to Ireland in return for €1,000.

Pintus, a dual Canadian-Italian citizen, pleaded guilty to evasion of duty on the cigarettes at Dublin Airport, on April 17, 2024.

The total value of the cigarettes was €16,280 and the loss of duty to the State was €8,954.

Customs officer Mark Farrell told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that Pintus said a driver was to pick her up and she was to meet a person in Ireland to hand over the cigarettes.

The cigarettes were believed to be for onward sale in the United Kingdom. 

Defence counsel, Leanora Frawley BL, said Pintus had been in economic difficulty and lived on the streets since her family put up the money for her bail. Her family also send money when they can for her to access homeless facilities.

She told the court her client was in a “very desperate situation.” She asked her client be allowed to return home.

Judge Orla Crowe said this was “a very unusual case and unusual accused.”

The judge imposed a six month sentence which she suspended in full and ordered her to be of good behaviour for 18 months.

Pintus told the judge she wanted to extend an apology to Ireland and to the people at the airport.