Eight tonnes of tobacco has been seized by Revenue’s Customs Service.

The tobacco leaf and paraphernalia needed to manufacture up to 12 million cigarettes had been packed on pallets in a 40 ft container which had arrived at Dublin Port via Holyhead on Monday.

It had been declared as containing “paper”, but the tobacco, filters and filters and packaging material was spotted when scanned by the Customs X-Ray Scanner .

The consignment was then followed to a premises in Co. Monaghan where officers moved in to seize it.

Its thought the haul was destined for a cigarette making plant in the border area.

If the consignment had gotten through the loss to the public purse would have been over €4 million.

This is another big win for the Customs Service and Revenue say a major blow to criminals.

It had arrived via Holyhead into Dublin Port yesterday and was followed to a premises in Co. Monaghan where officers moved in.

Two weeks ago 120 million cigarettes worth €50 million were seized at Greenore port in County Louth – the largest haul of its kind in the history of the state.