TOBACCO AND CIGARETTES were seized in Limerick city yesterday.

Around 20,000 ‘EM@IL’ brand cigarettes were found in a vehicle and 22.5kg of ‘Eastender’ tobacco was then discovered in a follow up search, under warrant, of a lock up facility.

An Irish man in his 40s is helping gardaí with their inquiries and investigations are ongoing with a view to prosecution.

Revenue says the tobacco and cigarettes seized have an estimated retail value of €19,125 and would represent a potential loss to the Exchequer of €14,914 – assuming that it would have displaced the equivalent full tax paid quantity of cigarettes.

The seizure is part of Revenues on-going operations targeting the supply and sale of illegal cigarettes in the shadow economy.

If business or members of the public have any information regarding the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes or tobacco, they can contact Revenue in confidence on free phone number 1800 295295.

Read: Here’s how much money was seized from criminals last year>