Customs officers seized 500,000 cigarettes and 1,000 litres of suspected counterfeit vodka following a search operation, it emerged today.
Some 130kg of hand-rolling tobacco was also discovered in the vehicle stopped in Tralee, Co Kerry, last night as part of an operation targeting the sale and supply of illegal cigarettes.
The Palace, John Player Blue and Benson and Hedges contraband has a retail value of around €300,000.
The van was seized and two men in their 40s were questioned by customs officers, but not arrested.
Lobby group Retailers Against Smugglers welcomed the seizure but said a greater clampdown on the illegal trade is required.
Spokesman John Healy said: “We have noticed an unprecedented level of illegal selling in this region in the past 12 months — his is the same in all rural parts of Ireland.
“Criminals are moving across the country with their illegal activity and more and more retailers are being put under serious pressure.” Mr Healy said retailers lost almost €700 million in tobacco sales last year despite the increased number of seizures.
PA