Gardai carrying out a routine patrol in the Mullingar area struck lucky this week when they unearthed a large quantity of cigarettes in a van.
Over 1,000 cartons of assorted cigarettes, with an estimated value of €100,000, were seized on Tuesday evening when officers searched a van on the N4 near Mullingar as part of a routine Garda operation.
The van was stopped by gardai on the road at Cullionbeg, north of Mullingar, at approximately 5.35pm on Tuesday. A man in his 20s, who was the sole occupant of the van, fled the scene but was pursued by gardai.
He was brought to Mullingar Garda Station for questioning, and was later released and a file prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Investigations are being carried out to establish whether the cigarettes are counterfeit.
