Customs said Friday they have seized 240 cartons of cigarettes wrapped as presents during a routine check at the Ayios Dhometios crossing point.

A statement said officers found 48,000 Parliament cigarettes in a car driven by a Turkish Cypriot crossing from the north on Thursday.

The man was arrested on suspicion of illegal possession of untaxed tobacco products and attempting to avoid paying tax worth close to €9,000.

The cigarettes and the vehicle were seized while the man was remanded in custody for four days.

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