Officials seize nine million contraband cigarettes

Up to nine million contraband cigarettes were seized today by the Revenue Commissioners in Co Laois.

The Super King brand cigarettes were discovered in a container that was delivered to a premises in Durrow in error.

The container, which originated in Spain, had passed through Dublin Port.

It has since been returned to the port where custom officials are examining the find.

The cigarettes, which are valued at €3m, have a potential loss in taxes to the exchequer of €2.5m.

A spokeswoman for the Revenue said it is estimated that between eight and nine million cigarettes were seized.

“We are in the process of accessing exactly how many cigarettes were found and how much they are worth,” she added.

An investigation is under way.