The Revenue department has warned online shoppers to be wary of Black Friday deals that seem too good to be true.
The warning comes as Revenue’s customs teams report significant seizures of counterfeit items and drugs this year.
Buyers risk purchasing counterfeit goods or incurring unexpected charges like customs duty and VAT.
Revenue’s operations at An Post’s Dublin Mail Centre have intercepted €3.8 million worth of counterfeit goods and €12 million worth of drugs by the end of October.
The mail centre plays a crucial role in detecting illegal items sent through the postal system.
Last week alone, customs officials at the Dublin Mail Centre seized 12kg of cannabis valued at €245,000 and counterfeit goods worth nearly €25,000.