Nearly 11 million illegal cigarettes have been seized in a joint operation at Belfast Port - but nobody has been arrested.
The dodgy ciggies, worth an estimated £5.3million according to HM Revenue and Customs, were picked up in packed boxes inside a container that had been scanned by Border Force.
Speaking about the seizure, which happened on June 20, Lucie Irving of HMRC said: “Cheap cigarettes come at a cost as they often fund organised crime and other illegal activity that causes real harm to our communities, such as drugs, guns and human trafficking.
“This is a huge seizure of illegal cigarettes and our streets would have been flooded with them had they not been discovered.
“We are determined to stamp out tobacco fraud by working closely with our partners in the UK and internationally to bring those responsible to justice
“We urge anyone with information about cigarette fraud to contact HMRC online. Search ‘Report Fraud HMRC’ on GOV.UK and complete our online form.”
Darren Brabon, Assistant Director, Border Force Northern Ireland Command, added: “Illicit cigarettes are dangerous, harmful and fund organised criminal gangs.
“Children and young people are key targets for those who peddle illegal tobacco and cigarettes, encouraging them to take up smoking and exposing them to crime.
“This seizure is another example of our commitment with HMRC and partner agencies to stop these illicit items from entering the country and harming our communities.”
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