Some 52 million cigarettes were seized by the Revenue last year as the crackdown on illegal tobacco smuggling continued.
Provisional figures from Customs and Excise estimate the value of the confiscated cigarettes at €16.2 million, with a potential cost to the taxpayer of €12.7 millon, Revenue said.
This is an increase on figures in 2005,when 50.7 million cigarettes were seized.
During the year, 16 foreign nationals were arrested and charged with cigarette smuggling offences, with the majority attempting to come through Dublin Airport. There were 1,951 tobacco seizures at Dublin Airport, accounting for some 22.7 million cigarettes and 269Kg of tobacco.
A further 138 persons were convicted of cigarette smuggling offences during 2006, with fines of almost €59,000 imposed as a result.