Smugglers trying to move counterfeit goods into single market via Northern Ireland, EU says

An EU official said there was evidence criminals were trying to use the Irish Sea crossing to get prohibited products into the EU single market

UK Border Force officers carry out checks in Belfast Port. File Picture: PA

Several large-scale smuggling incidents show that EU concerns over the operation of the Northern Ireland Protocol are not theoretical, Brussels has said.

Seizure of counterfeit high-value electrical products last year, fitted with the European Union-type plugs, show the need for robust processes at Northern Ireland ports, an EU official said.