Criminal gangs trying to smuggle cash out of the country are trying to avoid detection by splitting the money into smaller amounts and using multiple couriers in a practice called “smurfing”.

Even jaded customs officers must have smirked at the excuse. When they searched bags belonging to Rafhe John they found €106,700 in cash.

A Meath man has had more than €49,000 seized from him after a court rejected his claim that the cash was the winnings of a horse racing syndicate.