Customs officers have seized heroin worth an estimated €2.4 million at Dublin Port in what they say is their biggest-ever such seizure.
Customs picture showing today's haul of heroin found in stoves in Dublin Port
Revenue's Customs Services said that 12kg of heroin and 2.5kg of cocaine were seized today during a routine examination by a sniffer dog.
"Cocaine with a street value of €175,000 was also seized bringing the total seizure to approximately €2.6 million," a statement said.
The drugs were hidden in two wood-burning ranges - which Customs said were described as "Antique-Style Wood Burning Ranges" - that had arrived in Dublin Port from Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
"During a routine examination, Lulu, one of three sniffer dogs based in Dublin Port, gave an indication that led officers to believe that there was a concealment containing drugs in each cooker," the Revenue statement said.
"Customs officers uncovered ten blocks of heroin and two blocks of cocaine in total."
Rory O'Connor, head of Customs in Dublin Port, said: "We tested the first block and it showed up as cocaine so initially we assumed the rest was cocaine. However, following testing of the other blocks we realised that we had a major seizure of heroin on our hands.
"Coupled with the €13 million load of cannabis we seized earlier in the month this has been a very productive month for drugs seizures in Dublin Port," he said.
Inquiries into the seizure are ongoing.