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| Cigarette ship set to be unloaded | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Revenue officials and gardai are to begin unloading a cargo of 120m illegal cigarettes which were seized on a ship off the County Louth coast. | |
| About 150 law enforcement officers from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were involved in the operation on Tuesday. | About 150 law enforcement officers from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were involved in the operation on Tuesday. |
| 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 arrived in Dublin Port on Wednesday. | |
| It is expected the unloading of the cargo, which contains nearly 1,500 one-tonne bags, will begin on Wednesday afteroon. It has been described as the largest find of its type in Europe. | |
| The cigarettes, which were loaded in the Philippines, were destined for markets in the Republic and the UK. | The cigarettes, which were loaded in the Philippines, were destined for markets in the Republic and the UK. |
| Speaking on Tuesday, HM Revenue and Customs spokesman John Whiting said the operation targeted a suspected organised crime group operating on both sides of the Irish border. | Speaking on Tuesday, 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". |