The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) and the police seized a considerable amount of contraband cigarettes on Sunday morning.

The operation started during a routine patrol at 8:30hrs CET when an AFM maritime patrol aircraft noted two vessels acting suspiciously some 35 nautical miles south west of Malta. The vessels appeared to be engaged in some form of irregular cargo transfer. The aircraft thus continued to monitor the vessels until one started heading towards Malta. The AFM aircraft continued to monitor the progress of this craft.

The AFM then dispatched one of the newly acquired rigid hull inflatable boats commissioned just three days ago to intercept the target. Army personnel boarded the vessel some 14 nautical miles west of Malta at 11:25hrs CET.

39 boxes containing 390,000 cigarettes were found and seized.

Investigations are underway.

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