Customs officers today warned smugglers they would clamp down on their use of cheap holiday flights to bring black market tobacco into Northern Ireland. The warning came after half a million cigarettes and 14 kilos of tobacco were seized in a five-day crackdown in the North.
Baggage searches took place at Belfast's two airports and there were also raids on retail premises across the North.
Contraband cigarettes were seized from 47 passengers returning to Belfast International Airport and Belfast City Airport on flights from Tenerife and Arrecife.
Around 274 grams of herbal cannabis was also seized from a passenger on a flight arriving from Amsterdam.
A Belfast man was arrested over the seizure and was released on bail pending further inquiries.
In a joint operation with police, customs officers also confiscated contraband tobacco during raids on 11 retail premises in Ballymena, Coleraine and Bushmills.
Customs officers estimated the total revenue loss for the seizures over the five days was £93,000.