CONTRABAND CIGARETTES WORTH around €3.1 million were seized at Dublin Port yesterday.

Officers from Revenue’s Customs Service seized the 8 million contraband cigarettes, which have an estimated retail value of €3.1 million.

The “Top Mountain”, “Bon International”, “Royal” and “Jim” brand cigarettes arrived into Dublin Port on Sunday from Rotterdam in a shipment described as “chilled foodstuffs”.

But when the refrigerated unit was examined after routine scanning by Revenue’s mobile scanner, Revenue officials discovered the smuggled cigarettes: in boxes labelled “Garlic & Cheese Tear & Share”.

An Irish registered commercial vehicle and a refrigerated trailer were seized and the driver, who was an Irish man in his mid 40s, was interviewed. Revenue says that investigations are ongoing both nationally and internationally.

This latest seizure brings to 89.5 million the total amount of contraband cigarettes seized by Revenue to date in 2012.

If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes, they can contact Revenue in confidence on freephone 1800 295 295.

Read: Illegal medicines worth €375,000 seized in Ireland as part of global operation>

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