A considerable amount of unregistered cigarettes were seized this morning in an operation by the Armed Forces of Malta, a statement read.

The operation started at sunrise when an AFM interceptor vessel noted a vessel acting suspiciously in Maltese territorial waters.

Army personnel boarded the vessel just off the Maltese coast and following a thorough search, they found boxes containing thousands of cigarettes. Due to the amounts of tobacco involved and the suspicion that the items were being smuggled to Malta, the AFM personnel escorted the boat ashore and handed over the men on-board and the items found to customs officials, the statement added.

The police are currently investigating the case.

Photo by: AFM PAO/Bdr Justin Gatt