More than €135 million worth of drugs were seized by State customs officials last year - almost 17 times more than in 2006.
Figures released today from the Revenue Commissioners showed a €127 million increase in hauls over the past 12 months.
The massive rise followed the country's largest ever seizure of 1,500 kilos of cocaine at Dunlough Bay, Co Cork, in July.
The 62 bales of cocaine had an estimated net value of €107 million. Preliminary business results for 2007 revealed the Customs Service also collected €24 million worth of cigarettes - a 33 per cent increase- and €410,000 of suspected criminal cash.
Meanwhile, total audit and assurance check activity netted €736 million, an increase of €44 million on 2006. It said investigations into 3,807 construction companies lifted €154 million, while special investigations into offshore assets, single premium insurance policy investigations, and bogus non-resident accounts netted €132 million.
The Revenue Commissioners said there were also 14 convictions for serious tax and duty evasion while a further 101 cases were being processed with a view to prosecution.
Chairman Frank Daly said the figures represent a successful year for the body across its wide range of business areas. "Revenue's role is more than a tax and duty collection agency," he said.
"We provide a key input to the economic and social fabric of the country. "Certainly our work delivers the resources for schools, roads, hospitals and the myriad of other services that add to everybody's quality of life - but it also plays a critical role in encouraging economic development and protecting society."
The headline results confirmed total tax revenue was at €47.2 billion in 2007, up 3.7 per cent but down €1.8 billion on predicted estimates.
It said all taxes were ahead of 2006 except stamp duty which was down 530m euro and corporation tax was minus €292 million.
Labour's finance spokeswoman Joan Burton said the huge sums involved show that tax evasion continues to be a major phenomenon in Irish society.
She said the total of €2.4 billion raised to date by special investigations is the equivalent of the combined annual budget for this year for both the Garda Siochana and the Defence Forces. "It gives some indication of the extent of the evasion that was going on and the benefit to the Exchequer in taking a more vigorous approach to dealing with tax evasion," she said.
"There is a need to keep the pressure on the construction sector to ensure full compliance and to undertake similar special projects in regard to other sectors where evasion may be widespread.
"It is important to emphasise, once again, that tax evasion is not a victimless crime. Every euro evaded is an additional euro on somebody else's tax bill or a euro less for public services."