They said the haul also included a quantity of gunpowder.

Security sources said the haul contained all of the elements needed to manufacture 12 million cigarettes.

A police spokesperson said the haul was the second-biggest border seizure of drugs in New Zealand history.

Gardaí said the haul had an estimated street value of €400,000.

Commodore John Campbell said the haul was a great outcome for international security and a massive achievement for the Te Kaha crew.

Det Insp Tony Fennessy said the haul was "one of the largest finds of Semtex in the State in recent years".

A military source said the haul included rocket-propelled grenades, missile and rocket launchers, missile tubes, surface-to-air missile launchers, spare parts and other heavy weapons.

The Revenue's Customs Service said the haul would have lead to a potential loss to the Exchequer of €1.65 million.