More than half a million euro of pure alcohol disguised as car-wash fluid and destined for the blackmarket was seized in Dublin Port.
The potentially lethal liquid, thought to have been distilled in Bulgaria, could have made up to 20,000 litres of counterfeit vodka.
Customs officers who recovered the illegal load warned today it could do serious harm in the wrong hands.
"In addition to the potential loss of revenue and the threat to legitimate trade, this product could have posed a serious health risk to the consumer because of unknown quality control in the manufacturing process," a spokesman said.
Customs officers seized the 570,000 euro haul from a container on a ferry from Holyhead.
The 4,000 litres of almost 100 per cent pure alcohol had been packed in 800 five-litre drums and falsely described as 'car wash'.
Customs fear it could have been used to make five times as much vodka for the blackmarket.
It is understood the illegal drink was intended to be sold to pubs and market traders.
The load was consigned to a fake business address in Co Louth.
No arrests were made during the seizure and Customs said investigations were continuing.
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