One of the biggest ever seizures of contraband cigarettes bound for the Irish market was made by customs officers in Rosslare Harbour yesterday.
Six million cigarettes worth €1.7 million were recovered when the authorities searched a 40ft container which had arrived at the Co Wexford port from Cherbourg, France on October 10th, with falsified registration papers.
Some 5.5 million are Sovereign Classic brand. The remainder are Benson and Hedges.
Officials' suspicions were aroused after the driver of the lorry was stopped and interviewed.He told them he was transporting the personal belongings of an individual who was moving to Ireland.
Inquiries established that the listed owner of the shipment was fictitious and it was decided yesterday to open the container.
The cigarettes were hidden at the back of the trailer, behind several items of household furniture
The driver, aged 47 and from Britain, had been detained and questioned for several days.He has since been released and has left the State.
But customs officials insist he still "remains under suspicion". Investigations are continuing in Britain and the Continent.
A Revenue Commissioner spokesman said last night that the find was a "hugely significant development". Earlier this year, low-grade tobacco worth €1.1m was recovered at Cork Harbour.
A European Parliament report has suggested Irish smokers are the second biggest consumers of illicit tobacco products per head of population in the European Union.
If the cigarettes had reached the market here, loss to the Revenue Commissioners in unpaid VAT is estimated at €1.37 million.