Customs officers in Dundalk, Co Louth, have seized millions of pounds worth of smuggled cigarettes which were hidden on board a ship in Dundalk harbour.
The operation yesterday morning was the culmination of an international investigation into smuggling and represents a saving of about £3 million in lost revenue to the State.
The ship, the Cambodian-registered Maria M, left Estonia for Dundalk some time last week and while at sea was kept under surveillance by the Naval Service until it docked.
It was immediately boarded and searched by Customs and revenue officers who quickly located the contraband cargo.
It is understood the ship did not dock en route to Dundalk and that the cigarettes would have then been transported further on.
While some would have been sold in Ireland, most were probably destined for the black markets in Northern Ireland and Britain.
The cigarettes were concealed in the centre of bales of timber. The crew is being interviewed.