CUSTOMS OFFICERS SEIZED 3.5 million cigarettes at Rosslare Europort last night.

The “L&M” brand cigarettes have a reported retail value of €1.4 million – and represented a potential loss to the Exchequer of €1.2 million.

The contraband arrived into Rosslare in a 40ft roll-on roll-off on container on a ferry from Cherbourg, according to the Revuenue.

The consignment was labelled as “paper products” and originated in Spain.

A Romanian driver of an Irish registered truck, which is owned by an Irish-based haulage company, was interviewed by officials.

Revenue officials said that investigations were ongoing both nationally and internationally in relation to the haul, and issued a reminder to anyone tempted to buy cheap cigarettes from an irregular source of supply that there is a high possibility they are buying counterfeit goods, which provide an unknown set of health risks as the product is not the subject of quality control.

Such products also takes much needed funds from the exchequer; hurts legitimate trade and is funding criminal activity, officials said.

Anyone with information regarding the smuggling or sale of illegal cigarettes, are asked to contact Revenue in confidence on free phone number 1800 295 295.