Portugal's National Republican Guard (GNR) police force has dismantled a tobacco smuggling ring and seized around 775,000 packets, or more than 15 million cigarettes, according to a statement on the GNR website.

The GNR also seized 362,000 euros (444,753 U.S. dollars) in cash and two firearms in the operation, the statement said.

"The operation dismantled an organized crime group dedicated to importing smuggled tobacco, through national sea ports, with the aim of fraudulently introducing it into the consumer market, avoiding the payment of any kind of tax," the GNR said.

The operation, code named "Pacifico," began several months ago, according to the GNR. It resulted in raids on 18 houses and the identification of eight Portuguese citizens aged between 42 and 62.

The GNR estimated the value of the cigarettes that were seized at 2,952,240 euros, which means the tax owed on the tobacco totaled over 2.6 million euros.