Cigarettes worth an estimated €35,000 have been seized at the Port of Waterford.

58,000 cigarettes and 1.45kg of pipe tobacco were found during the search of a cargo vessel in Belview.

The Panama registered vessel had arrived from Ceuta, Spain.

Revenue say the tobacco products, including brands such as ‘L&M’, ‘ASOS’ and ‘NAKHLA’, have an estimated retail value of over €35,100 representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of €27,700.

A Syrian man in his 30’s was questioned in relation to the seizure.

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

If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding the smuggling they can contact Revenue in confidence on free phone number 1800 295 295.