Published Friday, 23 October 2009
A teenager has been charged in connection with the haul which was recovered from the Bridge Street area of the city on Thursday.
The 18-year-old has been charged with possession of fireworks without a licence, unlawfully keeping and exposing fireworks for sale and with dishonestly using electricity.
The accused is due to appear before Newry Magistrates Court next month.
A ban on fireworks in Northern Ireland was lifted 13 years ago following the paramilitary ceasefires.
However, individuals must have a licence to purchase, possess, sell or use them.
SDLP Newry and Armagh MLA Dominic Bradley said: "This is the equivalent of a large bomb.
"People who illegally import vast quantities of illegal fireworks are unlikely to be up to speed on health and safety regulations for safe storage of dangerous substances, so this was a major disaster waiting to happen."