Customs officers have seized almost 15 million smuggled cigarettes at ports in the North over the past few days. They were found at docks in Belfast and in Warrenpoint, Co Down. The duty on the haul totalled £2.7 million, and the haul brings the number of smuggled cigarettes seized in the North over the last four months to almost 25 million.
The first seizure was made on Monday when customs officials examining containers in Belfast port uncovered nine million cigarettes. On Tuesday a routine examination of a container at Warrenpoint revealed 5.5 million cigarettes. Customs inquiries are continuing.
Tobacco and cigarettes with an estimated £1.2 million street value were recovered by customs officers at Dublin Port yesterday. The consignment, consisting of Benson and Hedges branded cigarettes worth £662,000 and Golden Virginia tobacco worth £485,000, originated in Belgium and was destined for Northern Ireland, customs said.