Nearly 3 million smuggled cigarettes seized in Kildare. That's 150,000 packs of 20 at over €12 each which would have been worth €1.6m

Revenue officers have seized 2.9 million smuggled cigarettes during a search, under warrant, of a premises in Newhall, Naas.

Revenue only revealed details this afternoon of the operation which took place yesterday evening.

The cigarettes, branded ‘NZ’, originated in Belarus and have a retail value of over €1.6 million if you put a price of over €12 on each of the 150,000 20 packs.

They would have represented a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €1.3 million in taxes and excise duty.

The seizure was made during an operation conducted as part of the Cross Border Joint Agency Task Force.

A man in his 60s was questioned and investigations are ongoing with a view to prosecution.

Separately today, in an intelligence led operation, Revenue officers seized approximately 500 grams of herbal cannabis with an estimated street value of €10,000, during a search, under warrant, of a house in Coolock.

The seizure was made as a result of a joint intelligence-led operation conducted by Revenue’s Customs Service, Gardaí from the Divisional Drugs Unit in Coolock Garda Station and the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

A 22-year-old man was arrested by Gardaí and is detained at Lucan Garda Station, under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drugs Trafficking) Act 1996. Investigations are ongoing.

These seizures are part of Revenue's ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal drugs, and the sale and supply of tobacco products in the shadow economy.

The majority of people pay the right amount of tax and duty. If businesses or members of the public have any information about smuggling or the sale of illegal tobacco products, they can contact Revenue on Confidential phone number 1800 295 295.