Northern Ireland Customs and Excise have said they made a "record seizure" of cigarettes when they carried out a routine search of a vessel at Warrenpoint, Co Down, yesterday.
A spokesman said the ship's final destination was not clear but it was believed that the cargo of several million smuggled cigarettes was destined for Northern Ireland, the Republic and Britain. The vessel, the Cyprus-registered Sylve, came from Riga, Latvia.
While the spokesman would not confirm that there was a link between the Sylve and another vessel impounded in Dundalk, Co Louth, on Wednesday, security experts believe that both hauls were destined for dissident republicans, most likely the "Real IRA".
About 20 million contraband cigarettes - believed to be worth around £3 million sterling - were found when garda∅ and customs officers raided the Maria M in Dundalk. The vessel hailed from Estonia and was carrying timber.
The spokesman said yesterday's seizure in Warrenpoint was part of an ongoing effort to combat tobacco smuggling.
"Such a major seizure - possibly one of the biggest ever made in Northern Ireland - will have a huge impact on organised crime.
"Tobacco smuggling on this scale is not a victimless crime. It draws people into links with organised crime, attacks the livelihood of honest traders and, in particular, makes cigarettes cheaper and more accessible to children.
"This latest success shows the benefit of close co-operation with the police", he concluded.