Gardaí in Co Louth have arrested eleven people after they discovered an illegal cigarette production factory in Jenkinstown.
The arrests which mainly consists of people from eastern Europe, comes after Gardai raided the premises at approximatley 8am this morning.
Upon raiding the facility which is thought to be one of the first ever to be uncovered in the state, Gardai and Customs officials uncovered 25 million illegal cigarettes, along with more than 40 tonnes of tobacco.
Officers also discovered high end production and manufacturing equipment that can reportedly make 250,000 cigarettes per hour.
Gardai and Revenue officers say the haul would have led to a loss of €12m to the exchequer of it had not been recovered.
They also say the eleven individuals detained this morning are currently being held at a number of Garda stations across Co Louth.