Driver questioned over Cork cigarettes seizure

A lorry driver is being questioned after customs officials in Cork seized nearly 3.5 million cigarettes.

The haul was hidden in a furniture shipment imported into the State from Malaysia.

Officials said 3,460,000 cigarettes, which had a retail value of around nearly €900,000. The potential loss to the Revenue in Vat and excise duty would have been close to €800,000.

An articulated truck used to transport the container of cigarettes was also seized and was being examined.

The seizure came following investigations into a number of bogus companies, a customs spokesman said. It was the third major seizure of contraband tobacco at Cork port in six months.

In June Cork customs officials seized 5,000 kilogrammes of contraband tobacco from Thailand and last month 1,230 kilogrammes of tobacco from Germany was also taken at the same port.