Counterfeit vodka factory uncovered in Kilcurry

Some of the items uncovered in the raid at Kilcurry

A counterfeit vodka factory was raided in Kilcurry last night.

The latest find by officers from the Revenue’s Customs Service and An Garda Síochana comes after a house containing a quantity of undistilled alcohol and €1.3m worth of tobacco was discovered in Proleek in Ravensdale earlier this week.  It is not known as yet though if the two raids are in any way linked.

Investigators uncovered a major haul of counterfeit vodka labeling, packaging materials and bottle closures in a shed in the townland, just outside Dundalk.

Amongst the items discovered in the raid were 110,000 bottle closures, 400,000 counterfeit vodka labels and 500 counterfeit cardboard outer cases.

While no counterfeit vodka was discovered, a bottle filling machine and ancillary equipment was also seized on the site.

Two people were detained for questioning following the raid with investigations continuing today.

Neknominate drinking game becoming big in Dundalk

A new drinking game has gone viral throughout Dundalk in recent days.

‘Neknominate’, which is believed to have originated in Australia, sees an individual face a challenge of downing a pint as quickly as possible.

They then challenge two friends by nominating them to neck a pint. Those nominated have to do so within 24 hours and post it on social media or face a financial penalty or the ultimate humiliation of losing face amongst friends.

The craze has taken over Facebook in this area in the last few days with more and more nominations being made on a daily basis.

While extreme measures of the game have yet to emerge here, around the world people have been trying to outdo each other. Some have opted to neck bottles of wine, vodka or other spirits while others haven taken to drinking from boots or toilets.

Rather than post a video of a local person taking part – and there have been many, check out the video above of an Australian guy drinking from a toilet which earned huge criticism from health authorities Down Under.

Cigarettes seized in Faughart

1.2 million cigarettes worth in the region of €550,000, over 400kg of tobacco worth €180,000 and a small quantity of counterfeit vodka were seized at a house in Faughart, just outside Dundalk, last Saturday.

The total value of the seizure amounts to €730,000 and is a potential loss of €620,000 to the Exchequer.

No arrests were made during the raid and enquiries are ongoing.