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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Real IRA 'link to cigarette haul' | Real IRA 'link to cigarette haul' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Real IRA is being linked to a massive haul of smuggled cigarettes seized at a County Louth port. | The Real IRA is being linked to a massive haul of smuggled cigarettes seized at a County Louth port. |
| In what was described as the biggest ever seizure in the UK and Ireland, more than 120 million cigarettes were seized on a ship at Greenore. | In what was described as the biggest ever seizure in the UK and Ireland, more than 120 million cigarettes were seized on a ship at Greenore. |
| About 150 law enforcement officers from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were involved in the operation. | About 150 law enforcement officers from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were involved in the operation. |
| Two men from County Armagh were among 10 people arrested in County Louth. The cigarettes are worth 50m euros. | Two men from County Armagh were among 10 people arrested in County Louth. The cigarettes are worth 50m euros. |
| The ship had left the Philippines on 15 September carrying a cargo declared as animal feed. It arrived in Greenore early on Monday where officials kept it under surveillance. | The ship had left the Philippines on 15 September carrying a cargo declared as animal feed. It arrived in Greenore early on Monday where officials kept it under surveillance. |
| 'Global scale' | 'Global scale' |
| After the cargo was unloaded, officers followed trucks to another location and raided several premises in the County Louth area. The vessel has also been searched. | After the cargo was unloaded, officers followed trucks to another location and raided several premises in the County Louth area. The vessel has also been searched. |
| HM Revenue and Customs spokesman John Whiting said the operation targeted a suspected organised crime group operating on both sides of the Irish border | |
| "This smuggling attempt was organised crime on a global scale," he said. | |
| "Today's operation shows that those who think they can exploit international borders for criminal purposes and to escape justice are wrong." | |
| Irish police commissioner Fachtna Murphy said it was a "significant strike against organised crime". | Irish police commissioner Fachtna Murphy said it was a "significant strike against organised crime". |
| Meanwhile, police are carrying out a major search operation in parts of counties Armagh and Tyrone as part of a separate long-running inquiry into serious crime. | Meanwhile, police are carrying out a major search operation in parts of counties Armagh and Tyrone as part of a separate long-running inquiry into serious crime. |
| A number of residential and commercial properties have been raided in connection with fraud and money laundering offences. | A number of residential and commercial properties have been raided in connection with fraud and money laundering offences. |
| The operation is being led by the PSNI's organised crime branch. | The operation is being led by the PSNI's organised crime branch. |
| It is understood searches have taken place in the Crossmaglen and Silverbridge areas. | It is understood searches have taken place in the Crossmaglen and Silverbridge areas. |
| The police have said they will try to keep disruption to "normal community life" to a minimum. | The police have said they will try to keep disruption to "normal community life" to a minimum. |