Smuggled cigarettes, alcohol seized from commercial outlets

A quantity of smuggled cigarettes and spirits were seized from commercial outlets during inspections by Customs officers during last month. A Customs spokesman said that in 37 of the 150 inspections carried out in bars, restaurants and other outlets, including vegetable hawkers, officers found 24,600 cigarettes and 756 bottles of alcoholic beverages on which the due taxes had not been paid.

The inspections were carried out in various localities in Malta and Gozo. The unpaid Customs and excise duty and VAT on the seized cigarettes and drinks amounted to over €10,000, the spokesman said.