Gardaí are to be given the power to stop and search people who are suspected of carrying illicit tobacco. Draft laws published this afternoon will grant gardaí the right to seize any containers and search them for tobacco without a warrant.

It is part of the efforts by government to clamp down on the black market tobacco trade. It is estimated that nearly 30% of all cigarettes consumed in Ireland are bought on the black market.

In his Budget speech, Michael Noonan told the Dáil he was planning new measures to help gardaí tackle the illicit tobacco trade.

Today he has published the Finance Bill which would give gardaí the power to stop and search anybody who they believe is carrying illegally imported tobacco products.

That includes the right to demand that someone hand over any container and allow it to be searched for tobacco products.

Gardaí will also be allowed to detain an individual for as long as they need to - effectively giving them the right to detain someone indefinitely to investigate alleged tobacco crimes.