Nine held over largest-ever cigarette haul

Nine men were arrested today as part of a customs swoop in Co Louth believed to have netted the largest ever number of illicit cigarettes seized in the UK and Ireland.

More than 120 million smuggled cigarettes and a ship were seized in Co Louth as part of the multi-agency operation, codenamed Samhna.

The Customs Service said the operation targeted the suspected criminal activities of an organised crime group operating both north and south of the border.

The haul, valued at €50m was recovered from a cargo vessel which was put under surveillance as it sailed from the Philippines last month.

Customs officials said they waited until the consignment was taken from the M/V Anne Scan on to waiting trucks and delivered to an importer before they swooped.

Several premises in the county were raided.

It is estimated more than 150 officers from the various Irish and UK agencies were involved in the operation.

Revenue Commissioner Liam Irwin said the success was a credit to the close working arrangements and cooperation between the various law enforcement agencies both nationally and internationally.

“Criminals have no respect for national borders and international cooperation is now more essential than ever for law enforcement agencies,” he said.

“This is a shining example of a multinational, multi-agency response to criminal activity and all the agencies involved should be commended for the part they played in this successful operation.”

Officials suspected the ship's cargo, which had been declared as animal feed, was a large consignment of contraband cigarettes.

The Irish Navy tracked the vessel as it approached Irish waters from the Mediterranean and, with the customs cutter vessel, kept it under surveillance as it sailed up the Irish Sea.

It docked at Greenore Port, Co Louth, on Monday morning.

As the cargo was moved today the agencies – including the Republic’s Revenue’s Customs Service, An Garda Siochana, The Criminal Assets Bureau, the Irish Naval Service and Air Corps and in the North, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), and the Police Service of Northern Ireland – moved in.

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), which was also involved, will coordinate the international inquiries which will form part of the follow-up investigations.

Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said the operation was a significant strike against organised crime.

“The success of the operation illustrates the results and benefits that flow from close interagency cooperation,” he added.

HMRC’s John Whiting said the smuggling attempt was organised crime on a global scale.

“The gangs behind this form of criminality are motivated solely by greed and personal gain,” said Mr Whiting, assistant director, criminal investigation.

“Today’s operation shows that those who think they can exploit international borders for criminal purposes and to escape justice are wrong.”