Two arrested after tobacco and cigarettes seized in Co Louth

Two men were arrested after nearly 10kg of counterfeit tobacco, 13,500 cigarettes and nearly €4,000 in cash were seized in by gardaí and customs officers in Drogheda, Co Louth, on Monday.

The searches involved members of the recently-formed Drogheda Community Action Team unit who were assisted by members of the Revenue’s Customs Service.

The searches related to the sale of counterfeit cigarettes in Drogheda.

Gardaí said during the course of the operation searches were carried out at a retail premises and two residential properties.

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"During these searches a total of 13,500 cigarettes, 9.75kg of tobacco, which are believed to be counterfeit, and €3,855 in cash were seized by Revenue and An Garda Síochána, " said gardaí.

The counterfeit tobacco products represented a total loss to the exchequer of about €12,000.

Two men in their 30s were arrested in connection with the seizure and have since been released without charge. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

During the operation, a 2016 Jaguar F-Pace SUV was also seized in connection with suspected money laundering offences, according to gardaí.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing.