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Real IRA 'link to cigarette haul' Millions of illegal cigs captured
(about 3 hours later)
The Real IRA is being linked to a massive haul of smuggled cigarettes seized at a County Louth port. A massive cigarette-smuggling operation by a cross-border criminal gang has been smashed.
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 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 borderHM 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".
A report earlier this year by the Independent Monitoring Commission, which examines paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland, said both the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA were "heavily involved in fraud offences such as tobacco smuggling and fuel laundering".
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.
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.
The police have said they will try to keep disruption to "normal community life" to a minimum.