18/05/2005

Over six million cigarettes seized in Newry

Over six million cigarettes have been seized by customs officers in Co Down.

Details of the seizure, which occurred in Newry last Friday, emerged on Wednesday and saw 6,240,000 Richman cigarettes detected in a container load described as flat-pack furniture. The cargo had arrived from Malaysia. It is understood that one arrest was made in connection with the operation.

As inquiries are ongoing there are no further details available at present.

Elsewhere, two illegal fuel laundering plants have been discovered in south Armagh. The plants, which have the potential to defraud the government of £1.5-million-a-year, were shut down in a joint operation by police and customs officers.

More than 3,000 litres of highly toxic acid waste was removed from the sites.

(MB/SP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 November 2024
Health Minister Seeks Urgent Talks On Pay
The Health Minister has confirmed that he has requested an early meeting with health service trade unions to discuss next steps on pay offers for 2024/25. Due to Northern Ireland's budgetary constraints, the Minister is unable to deliver the desired pay settlements for this year.
05 August 2010
Dublin Docks Raid Recovers Cigarette Haul
Some €4 million worth of illegally imported cigarettes were seized at Dublin Port last night. Customs officers said they uncovered the huge stash of nine million cigarettes in a container disguised as containing disposable cups. The seizure was part of an operation targeting the supply and sale of illegal tobacco.
19 November 2003
Customs seize over six million cigarettes in Co Armagh
Customs officers have uncovered over six million smuggled cigarettes in Co Armagh. The container-load was seized during an operation in Moy on Friday evening after the Dorchester brand cigarettes had been shipped from Malaysia.
17 October 2002
Cigarettes seized in Antrim
In an operation involving police and customs officers 80,000 illegal cigarettes have been seized in Antrim. The cigarettes were discovered in a car stopped by police officers at a checkpoint on the Dublin Road on Wednesday afternoon. A man with a Ballymena address was arrested for questioning.
29 January 2003
Six million cigarettes seized in Co Tyrone
Customs in a joint operation with PSNI scored a major success against cigarette smugglers in Co Tyrone yesterday. Officers intercepted a shipment of around 6 million cigarettes housed in an abandoned warehouse site near Coalisland.