Updated at 11.13pm
REVENUE COMMISSIONERS HAVE seized €50,000 worth of khat, a plant which is common in parts of Africa and the Middle East and is believed to be a natural amphetamine.
The seizures were made in Cork over the past week, with Revenue discovering the drugs at various courier premises in the county.
Khat is a plant which is usually chewed by users over a number of hours and can lead to euphoria and hallucinations. The drug is illegal in Ireland, and is currently in the process of being banned in the UK.
Customs officers also seized 100 counterfeit hair curlers at Cork Airport which had been imported from China.
Officers said the curlers had the potential to cause serious health and safety risks to unsuspecting customers.
Separately, Customs Service also seized more than 23,000 cigarettes which were found hidden in two packages which were disguised as sound speakers.
The cigarettes were seized in Roscommon town on Friday evening after they had arrived into Ireland from Poland.
A Polish man in his 30s has been questioned in connection with the seizure and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
First posted at 7.33pm
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