A HAUL of more than 8.5 million cigarettes worth some £2.4 million (just over €3 million) has been seized on a vessel at Belfast port.
They were discovered under a consignment of tyres sent to an address in Co Down from China. The find was made on Monday by the UK Border Agency. The PSNI said no arrests have been made. Revenue and Customs were now conducting an investigation to see if the cigarettes were counterfeit.
There are no indications dissident paramilitary groups are involved in the smuggling.
One estimate puts the revenue loss involved at £1.8 million.
John Whiting, of HM Revenue and Customs, said the sale of counterfeit tobacco products meant a "cheap and unregulated supply, operated by and for the benefit of criminals". "This is not a victimless crime," he said. "The huge profits reaped from the sales of these cigarettes would have been ploughed straight back into the criminal underworld, feeding activities like drug dealing and fraud.
Security Minister Paul Goggins congratulated those who made the discovery. "Over 14 million cigarettes have been seized in joint operations at Belfast docks in recent weeks and this sends out a clear signal.
SDLP North Belfast Assembly member Alban Maginness called for an integrated all-Ireland approach to tackling smugglers.