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Millions of illegal cigs captured | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A massive cigarette-smuggling operation by a cross-border criminal gang has been smashed. | |
In what was described as the biggest seizure in the UK and Ireland, more than 120 million cigarettes were seized on a ship at Greenore, County Louth. | |
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 nine people arrested in County Louth. The cigarettes are worth 50m euros. | Two men from County Armagh were among nine 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 | 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. | "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." | "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". |