Six million smuggled cigarettes seized
Customs officials have seized up to six million smuggled cigarettes in the third multi-million euro tobacco haul in a week.
The 25 pallets of Regal cigarettes arrived in Dublin Port last Monday labelled as hair extensions.
Officers tailed the €2.2m consignment for seven days before stopping it at a checkpoint at the M1 Dundalk South turn-off last night.
An Irish man detained at the scene was later released and is said to be helping customs with their investigations.
The cigarettes, which arrived in a 45ft container from Barcelona, are thought to have been bound for the UK black market.
“We are still making enquiries. But based on the fact that the container was heading towards the border and the brand is more common in Northern Ireland and the UK, we believe it was destined for the UK market,” Dublin Port customs official Ciaran Moulton said.
Last Tuesday a massive eight tonnes of tobacco leaf ready to be rolled into 12 million cigarettes was discovered after customs tailed a lorry from the port to a warehouse in Monaghan.
Three days later a container carrying 5.5 million cigarettes was seized at Dublin Port after arriving on a shipment from Vietnam.
“We’ve had a very busy week but a very good week,” Mr Moulton said.
“It’s unusual to get three containers back-to-back.
“We have invested very heavily in profiling down here over the last couple of years looking at freight movements all the time and we also have two X-Ray scanners operating.”
William Hanley, spokesman for Retailers Against Smuggling, called for authorities to ensure prosecutions follow major seizures.
“The Irish Government needs to radically change the legislation that is in place at the minute,” he said.
“We are still being seen as the soft touch by international criminals and until the Government start to hand out appropriate sentences then Ireland is going to continue to be a target for the illegal cigarette trade.
“Customs are doing a fantastic job but more needs to be done by Government.”
