8 Tonnes of Illegal Cigarettes Hidden in Potatoes Seized En Route to Ireland

French customs officials seized 8.4 tonnes of illegal cigarettes concealed within a shipment of potatoes destined for Ireland, authorities announced Friday. The Richmond brand cigarettes, valued at €5.46 million, were discovered during a routine inspection at Cherbourg Ferry Port on February 4th.

The lorry, which originated in the Netherlands, was preparing to board a ferry to Ireland when customs officers uncovered the contraband hidden behind sacks of potatoes. According to a statement released by French Customs, the seizure is part of a broader effort to disrupt tobacco smuggling operations, which officials say are a significant source of revenue for organized crime.

The driver of the vehicle has been fined €50,000 and received a one-year suspended prison sentence. Despite the illegal cargo, the driver was permitted to retain both the lorry and the potatoes, but has been banned from entering France for a period of five years.

This is not the first significant cigarette seizure at the Cherbourg port. French border police previously seized seven tonnes of contraband cigarettes, also Richmond brand, bound for Ireland in October 2025. That shipment had an estimated street value of €4.55 million, according to reports.

French Customs stated that the seized merchandise will be destroyed. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities focusing on identifying and dismantling the networks involved in the attempted smuggling operation.