Cigarette haul gang ‘will face charges’

GARDAÍ and Customs are hopeful of bringing prosecutions against the organised crime gang that masterminded the importation of 120 million cigarettes in Co Louth this week.

The development comes as Customs officers fly out to the Philippines today with colleagues from the EU Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) to pursue the investigation.

Investigation sources told the Irish Examiner yesterday that the seven Irish men arrested last Tuesday following the seizure were “top of the pile” in the criminal enterprise.