“I commend the dedication and efforts of the officers who conducted this major operation in South Armagh, leading to the seizure of over 11 million illicit cigarettes and the arrest of four individuals. This is a significant victory against organized crime and sends a strong message that illegal activities of this nature will not be tolerated.
The illicit tobacco trade not only damages our economy and local businesses, but it also poses serious health risks to the public. This kind of criminal activity undermines lawful trade and weakens our communities, and I am grateful to all those involved in this operation for their commitment to protecting our society from these harmful activities.
We stand firmly with the agencies of law and order in tackling organized crime and illegal trade. I urge all relevant agencies to continue with such proactive enforcement efforts to ensure that South Armagh and Northern Ireland as a whole remain safe, lawful, and supportive environments for our citizens and businesses.”