Customs officers have seized 150,000 cigarettes at Dublin airport in an operation that targeted a Northern Ireland-based criminal gang, the Revenue Commissioners said tonight.
The cigarettes and 12kg of tobacco with a street value of €60,000 and with a potential loss to Revenue of €46,500, were seized yesterday.
A spokeswoman said the cigarettes and tobacco were seized from passengers who had arrived on a charter flight from the Canary Islands.
"This was another significant success for Customs following a similar operation last week against the same smuggling gang. Officers believe the cigarettes and tobacco were destined for the black market in Northern Ireland," the spokeswoman said.
This month alone Revenue's Customs Service at Dublin airport has seized over a million cigarettes and 100kg of tobacco.
Since the start of the year, over 25.5 million cigarettes and 1,040kg of tobacco has been seized at the airport.