Criminal gang lose €20m in cigarette seizure

CRIME bosses were set to earn around €20 million profit if the consignment of 120 million cigarettes was not intercepted by the state.

While there were some suggestions dissident republicans were behind the operation, Garda sources said they believed it was the work of an organised crime gang specialising in smuggling. However, sources said there was a “possible” involvement by dissidents, either via links with the criminal gang and/or in distributing portions of the haul.

The seizure in Co Louth is the biggest ever cigarette haul in the state. It was intercepted following a multi-agency surveillance operation led by customs, assisted by gardaí, the navy and air corps.