Officers from Revenue's Customs Service, seized approximately 5 million cigarettes today when they stopped and searched a truck in Co. Louth.
The cigarettes, believed to be counterfeit, were 'Raquel' brand and have a retail value of €1.9 million. They represent a potential loss to the Exchequer of €1.6 million.
They were concealed in a consignment of goods described as tins of baked beans, that had arrived in Dublin Port from Belgium. The consignment was kept under surveillance before being intercepted in Co. Louth.
A man in his thirties from Northern Ireland was questioned and investigations are ongoing.