Five men are due to appear in court in connection with the discovery of a suspected illegal commercial cigarette factory in Co. Louth.

As part of an intelligence-led operation and with the assistance of An Garda Síochána, Revenue officers searched a premises under warrant in Ardee, Co. Louth yesterday (Monday, March 3).

Approximately 8t of raw tobacco, components for the manufacture of cigarettes, and 660,000 illicit cigarettes, branded ‘NZ’, were discovered on-site.

The retail value of the seized cigarettes is estimated to be over €595,000, with a potential loss to the exchequer of almost €470,000.

Revenue said that the equipment at the production plant is believed to have had the capacity to produce up to 700,000 cigarettes per day, along with pre-processing and packaging facilities.

Approximately €4,500 cash was also seized during the operation, and Revenue officers will seek a three-month cash detention order in respect of same.

Five men were arrested and are being detained in a Garda station in Co. Louth under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

Gardaí confirmed that five men were arrested and detained at garda stations in Co. Louth under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

They have since been charged and are expected to appear before a sitting of Dundalk District Court this morning.

The operation was conducted with the assistance of the Louth Crime Unit and Regional Armed Support Unit of An Garda Síochána, and detector dog Toby.

Revenue collaborated with other members of the Joint Agency Task Force (JATF) ahead of yesterday’s operation.

This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the shadow economy and the supply of illegal tobacco products.

Investigations into the case are ongoing.