This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8327992.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
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. |