08/05/2006

Real IRA suspects arrested in Spain

Two suspected Real IRA members have been arrested in Spain in connection with a tobacco smuggling operation.

The men, one from Northern Ireland and the other from the Republic, were arrested after two lorries, containing over £500,000 worth of cigarettes were seized at an industrial estate in Malaga.

It is understood that they were destined for the UK.

A large quantity of documents were also seized during the raid.

A police statement said a number of people have been under investigation on the southern coast of Spain for two years.

The 32-year-old man from Dublin and a 42-year-old man from Lisburn in County Antrim are both being questioned at the police intelligence headquarters in Madrid.

A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Police Service has said that the PSNI have been involved with assisting other European countries as part of investigations into serious organised crime.

(EF/SP)

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