Customs officers at Dublin Port seized 4,000 litres of pure alcohol that were smuggled into Ireland to produce up to 20,000 litres of illegal spirits.
The alcohol, which had the potential to produce €570,000 worth of contraband spirits, came from Bulgaria and arrived on a ferry from Holyhead.
It was destined for a fictitious business address in Co Louth.
“If any of this is getting on to the market people will be very tempted to buy it because it is so cheap,” said Ciarán Moulton, a higher executive officer who works for Customs and Excise at Dublin Port.