AN Irishman was arrested after Revenue officials searched an Irish-registered horsebox – carrying eight horses – at Rosslare Europort and found packages of cocaine on board with an estimated street value of over €2.5 million.

A detector dog, Timba, found the drugs after the lorry disembarked from a ferry from Cherbourg, France.

The arrested man is in his 40s and was detained by Gardai at the scene. He is currently being held at Wexford Garda Station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

The incident took place on Thursday and the search of the horsebox was carried out on foot of Revenue’s ongoing routine profiling.

Revenue officials and Gardai are continuing their investigations into the seizure.

Anyone with an information regarding drug smuggling is urged to contact Revenue on their confidential phone number which is 1800 295 295.