Gardaí will this morning begin an examination of the trailer belonging to a lorry carrying cigarettes that was hijacked yesterday morning.
The trailer was found on fire near Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, yesterday evening. The cab of the lorry was found burnt out in Co Armagh earlier. The hijacking took place at 7.30 a.m. at Killeen, just a few hundred yards north of the Border.
The lorry contained 3.3 million cigarettes worth around €1.5 million. The driver of the lorry was abducted but later turned up after sustaining minor injuries.
The gang of up to 14 involved in the well-planned operation disguised themselves as workmen by wearing yellow fluorescent jackets and hard hats. Roadworks have been taking place in the area recently.
The location and method of the operation led the PSNI and gardaí to suspect that Provisional IRA figures rather than dissident republicans were behind the incident.
The trailer was discovered on fire at Creevy Oliver, Carrickmacross, on the Carrickmacross to Ballybay Road at 6 p.m. The trailer was empty. Gardaí sealed off the scene and a technical examination will be carried out today.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who saw the trailer being parked yesterday or witnessed any suspicious activity.