15m cigarettes seized in searches

About 15 million cigarettes were seized

Police have put on display about 15 million cigarettes officers recovered during an operation in north Armagh on Thursday.

The potential loss to the Exchequer was £2.5m, police said.

Three men - aged 49, 45 and 36 - are expected to appear in court on Saturday charged in relation to the seizure.

Police said the searches were part of the "ongoing commitment to dismantling and disrupting organised criminal enterprises".

Detective Chief Superintendent Phil Aiken said such operations "have a real impact on the organisations".

The 49-year-old man and a 36-year-old had been charged with concealing chargeable duty goods with intent to defraud and possessing criminal property, said police.

The 45-year-old man has been charged with carrying chargeable duty goods with intent to defraud and possessing criminal property.

Meanwhile, three men arrested in north Antrim on Thursday morning in connection with a separate investigation into paramilitary activity are still being questioned.

Further searches have been carried out in the Dervock and Ballintoy areas.

It is understood some items have been taken away for examination