More than 260 firearms, 779 other weapons, a crocodile head, ivory, and packets of drugs were among the odd - and downright dangerous - items seized by Revenue officials working at An Post mail centres last year.

In addition to the “usual” attempted importation of expensive watches and other duty-payable designer accessories, both real and fake, Revenue officials found eight alligator heads, conch shells, coral from the Bahamas, an ivory tusk from a hippopotamus and almost 700 packages containing cannabis.

Goods including endangered species and fauna and flora which were found to be in breach of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species included:

January -2016

Eight alligator heads from the USA

February -2016

A Siamese crocodile skin wallet from Thailand

April -2016

An ivory hippopotamus tusk from South Africa

May-2016

Five conch shells from USA

May-2016

One ivory tusk from an unknown origin

August -2016

Three suspected corals from the Bahamas

September -2016

One crocodile head from Cambodia

A total of 261 firearms were seized, as well as 779 offensive weapons such samurai swords, telescopic batons, knuckledusters and various martial arts weapons.

A small number of seizures of pyrotechnics and fireworks were also made.

Drugs seized included cannabis (both herbal and resin), cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, ecstacy and “other”, with no further category breakdown or information available.