The lorry carrying the cigarettes was inspected at Cherbourg Ferry Port as it prepared to embark on a ferry to Ireland

Customs officials in France have seized more than eight tonnes of illegal cigarettes being smuggled to Ireland – hidden inside a delivery of potatoes.

French authorities said the €5.46 million worth of Richmond brand cigarettes were seized at Cherbourg Ferry Port last week – and the driver has now been fined €50,000 and hit with a one year suspended sentence.

He has already been given his lorry and load of potatoes back – but has been told to stay out of France for five years.

Officials said the find was made by customs officials during a routine inspection of a heavy goods vehicle at the Port on Wednesday of last week.

Some of the cigarettes seized in France before they could reach the streets of Ireland.(Image: Douane Française/French Customs)

They said the lorry had travelled from The Netherlands and was heading for a ferry to Ireland when the find was made.

French Customs announced the seizure in a statement on Friday morning.

It said: “On February 4, during an inspection at the Cherbourg port terminal, customs officers discovered 8.4 tons of contraband tobacco hidden in a truckload of potatoes bound for Ireland.

“This merchandise has a street value of €5.46 million.

“The cigarettes were hidden behind sacks of potatoes.

The cigarettes hidden in the lorry and a few of the sacks of potatoes that were hiding them.(Image: Douane Française/French Customs)

French Customs officials inspecting the lorry.(Image: Douane Française/French Customs)

“The merchandise, intended for illegal distribution networks, will be destroyed by customs officials.

“The driver appeared in court for a plea bargain hearing.

“He was fined €50,000 by customs, given a one-year suspended prison sentence, and banned from French territory for five years.

“The shipment of potatoes and the truck were returned to him.”

French customs also said the seizure was part of a wider campaign to combat tobacco smuggling – which they claim is a major cash cow for organised crime gangs.

They also revealed that officers seized seven tonnes of tobacco at the same port in October 2025 in a truck traveling the same route from the Netherlands to Ireland.

Taken from the Irish Mirror.

Customs officials in France make surprising discovery among potatoes destined for Ireland - Irish Mirror