REVENUE OFFICERS YESTERDAY seized 8.3 million smuggled cigarettes that arrived into Dublin Port aboard a vessel from the Netherlands.

The cigarettes were identified in a shipping container said to contain ‘car parts’.

The seized cigarettes were branded as RGD Magnum and Mark 1 and have a retail value of over €4.5 million. This represents a loss to the Exchequer of approximately €3.6 million.

A spokeswoman for Revenue said: “This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the supply and sale of illegal cigarettes and tobacco in the shadow economy.

“Revenue’s routine and intelligence led operations as well close inter-agency and international cooperation has led to the seizure of in excess of 50 million smuggled cigarettes nationwide in 2018.

“The majority of people pay the right amount of tax and duty. If businesses or members of the public have any information about smuggling or the sale of illegal tobacco products, they can contact Revenue on Confidential phone number 1800 295 295.”