Seizures of illicit cigarettes have fallen 56 per cent in the past four years although the black market remains strong, the Irish Examiner reported.

Almost 96 million cigarettes were seized last year, the lowest amount since 2007 and well short of the record 218.5 million cigarettes seized by Revenue officers in 2009, Revenue data show. Legal cigarettes cost EUR 9.30 per pack of 20, while illicits can be had for half that price, the Examiner reported. (pi)