DROGHEDA: Revenue’s Customs Service and the Gardaí uncovered 57,000 cigarettes and over 20kg of tobacco in two separate operations in Drogheda, Co Louth, in the past week.
At Drogheda market last Saturday, officers found 12,000 cigarettes and 3.5kg of hand-rolling tobacco that was un-excised and counterfeit.
The cigarettes included MG, M&J, 777, SKs and Excellence brands while the tobacco products were Amber Leaf and Samson.
A vehicle to distribute them was also seized.
A van that had un-excised cigarettes and tobacco was detained in Drogheda.
Officers noted that the counterfeit Marlboro cigarettes had counterfeit Irish tax stamps attached.
More un-excised cigarettes and tobacco were discovered during a follow-up search under warrant of an apartment in Drogheda.
A total of 45,000 cigarettes, 17kg of hand-rolling tobacco and the van were seized.
An Irish man in his 30s was questioned and investigations are ongoing with a view to prosecution.
