The driver of a Royal Mail van en route from Belfast to Dublin last night was tied up and the contents of the van stolen in Co Louth, gardai said this afternoon.
The hijacked van and its driver were found in Dunleer, Co Louth this afternoon. The van was making a delivery of post to Dublin and was due to arrive at its destination at around 1.30am.
The alarm was raised when the van did not arrive. When the van was discovered at Mullacurry, Dunleer this afternoon most of the contents were missing and the driver was found tied up in the rear of the van.
He was not physically injured.
The scene is sealed off for technical examination, a Garda spokesman said. "Initial enquiries indicate that the van was stopped by two armed men in the Co. Louth area. The driver was forced into a car and driven around for some time before being tied up and placed into the rear of the van," the spokesman said.
An incident room has been set up at Drogheda Garda Station.