Two men were remanded for eight days by the Nicosia district court on Wednesday for attempting to smuggle a large haul of cigarettes and tobacco from the north.

During a search of their van, officers recovered 127,000 cigarettes, 40,000 heated cigarettes (Iqos), 96 kilos of rolling tobacco, 102 kilos of narghile tobacco, and 1,000 cigarillos.

The two men in the van, aged 37 and 39, were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of negligent driving, and illegal possession as well as transport of duty-free goods.

A police spokesperson said, “All seized items are being documented and preserved as part of the ongoing investigation.”

Authorities added that the pursuit and seizure are part of continued efforts to combat the illegal transport of contraband from the north.