Four million cigarettes seized

Customs officials and gardaí today seized an estimated four million cigarettes in Co Laois.

Officers from Revenue's Customs Service said the cigarettes were in a container that had earlier arrived in Dublin Port.

The seizure, which is part of Revenue's ongoing operations targeting the supply and sale of illegal cigarettes, has a potential retail value of €1.7 million and a potential loss to the exchequer of €1.3 million, a Revenue statement said.

Four people have been questioned by customs officials.

A file on the case is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.