NEARLY FOUR MILLION cigarettes have been seized by Revenue’s Customs Service.

In the first of two separate operations, ’821 Red’ brand cigarettes with an estimated retail value of €1.5 million and a potential loss to the Exchequer of €1.3 million were seized.

They were seized in an operation carried out by Customs in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford after the arrival of the cigarettes into Dublin Port in a groupage maritime container from Rotterdam.

Two men were interviewed and investigations are being carried out both nationally and internationally, according to Revenue.

In another operation that was carried out yesterday afternoon, 12,000 ‘West’ brand cigarettes were seized at Dublin Airport.

A Polish man, 53, was arrested and appeared before Dublin District Court today where he was remanded in custody to appear again next week.

The seizures were part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the smuggling and sale of illegal cigarettes.