GARDAI AND CUSTOMS IN SMUGGLED CIGS SWOOP AT CLONTIBRET

By PATSY McARDLE

ARMED gardai from the Emergency Response Unit joined Customs and Excise officers in a major week-end operation in Mid- Monaghan which led to the seizure of a huge haul of smuggled cigarettes with an estimated retail value of €3.8 million.
The officers swooped on a large shed at Clontibret, a short distance from the Keady Border with South Armagh.
The search party ordered a number of people in the “warehouse” to lie on the ground while the search was conducted.
The raid team also confiscated a number of mobile phones for examination from people who were engaged in off-loading some items from a vehicle at the building.
The smuggled cigarettes were found in a large container beside another container in which it is understood there was some furniture fittings recently stored.
The swoop is believed to have followed a tip-off and subsequent surveillance operation in the area on Saturday last.
Full story in The Northern Standard