Customs officers from both sides of the border have reportedly seized over two million cigarettes in a joint operation.
It is understood that searchs conducted in Louth and Dublin unearthed just over 300,000 cigarettes. Meanwhile searches conducted in counties Down, Tyrone and Armagh resulted in the discovery of a tobacco processing plant, along with two million cigarettes and a reported 12 tonnes of tobacco.
Police in the North say they have arrested five people in connection with the discoveries.
It is believed that the cigarettes recovered would have represented a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €100,200.
