A massive cross-border operation between Ireland and the UK's crime fighting agencies saw three men arrested this morning.
Millions of cigarettes, tons of tobacco and €100,000 in cash were also taken during the Joint Agency Task Force (JATF) op today, which featured both An Garda Siochana and Revenue and the PSNI and HM Revenue and Customs.
In Co Armagh, officers from HM Revenue and Customs arrested three men, aged 34, 37 and 55, and seized eight million cigarettes worth an estimated £3 million in lost revenue.
Meanwhile, gardai assisted by Revenue carried out seven searches - one at a business property and six at residential properties - in the area of Carlingford, Co Louth this morning.
They seized the following:
Approximately €100,000 in cash
2.5 tonnes of raw tobacco product with a value of €1.55 million, which represents a potential loss to the Exchequer of €1.24 million
Over 1,900kg of hand-rolling tobacco packaged for sale with a value of €1.2 million, which represents a potential loss to the Exchequer of almost €947,500
Equipment used for the manufacture of tobacco products
One articulated lorry, one rigid lorry, two trailers and one van were seized
Mobile fuel-laundering machinery (concealed in the articulated lorry).
A Garda statement added: "Investigations ongoing."
