Smugglers hit as officials stub out 68m illegal cigarettes

Smugglers saw millions of their anticipated profits go up in smoke last year after Revenue officials seized 68m illegal cigarettes.

The haul makes up 3.4m packets — enough to keep almost 10,000 20-a-day smokers going for a year — and was in addition to 2,364kg of loose tobacco also seized at ports, in post, and in warehouses.

Revenue put a value on the seized goods of €35.5m up from the €25.5m worth of similar products taken out of circulation in 2014.