Van smuggling 130,000 cigarettes from north seized after police pursuit

Police intercepted a van on Wednesday morning that had entered the government controlled areas from the north, seizing a large haul of cigarettes and tobacco.

During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered 127,000 cigarettes, 40,000 heated cigarettes (IQOS), 96 kilos of rolling tobacco, 102 kilos of narghile tobacco, and 1,000 cigarillos.

The two passengers, aged 37 and 39, were arrested on suspicion of negligent driving, illegal possession as well as transport of duty-free goods.