Over eight tonnes of cigarettes hidden behind potatoes bound for Ireland seized by French Customs, The driver’s lorry and potatoes were returned to him. No Famine here??? Sun Paper.

FRENCH customs have nabbed millions of euros worth of contraband cigarettes hidden in a truck’s shipment of potatoes bound for Ireland.

The 8.4tonnes worth of tobacco was intended for illegal distribution networks, French customs said.

Officers found the load hidden behind sacks of potatoes bound for Ireland

Customs officers intercepted the contraband cigarettes at the port of Cherbourg in northern France.

The goods were hidden behind sacks of potatoes in a semi-truck travelling from the Netherlands to Ireland.

French Customs estimated that the street value of the haul was €5.46million.

The driver of the lorry has appeared in court for a plea bargain hearing.

He was sentenced to a €50,000 customs fine, a one-year suspended prison sentence, and a five-year ban from French territory.

The load of potatoes and the truck were returned to him while the cigarettes will be destroyed.