Two British nationals were arrested at Larnaca airport after having been found attempting to smuggle 148 boxes of cigarettes from the north to their home country.

The pair, a 65-year-old man and a 43-year-old man, had arrived at the airport with the intention of boarding a flight bound for the United Kingdom, and had their luggage checked by officials from the customs department.

A total of 148 boxes containing 200 cigarettes each – 29,600 cigarettes – were found in the pair’s luggage.

None of the boxes bore the bilingual safety warning in Greek and Turkish or the unique traceability code and security feature, all of which are characteristic of tobacco products bought in the Republic of Cyprus.

As such, the products were seized, and both men were arrested.

They then abandoned the items for destruction and were released after paying a €7,000 out of court settlement.