Black market cigarettes peddled at old people’s home

Customs officials swoop down on Sa Maison old people’s home where management distributed illegal cigarettes to residents

Illegal cigarettes were distributed at an old people's home
Illegal cigarettes were distributed at an old people's home

It was an unusual find for the Customs Department this morning when a tip off led them to discover illegal cigarettes being distributed at an old people’s home.

Almost 3,000 cigarettes on which no tax was paid were found in the administrative office after a raid carried out at 5.30am.

The department said residents were being offered contraband cigarettes by the home’s management.

The largest batch discovered pertained to the brand Richman.

And in another swoop on a Hamrun bar, the department discovered another 1,200 contraband cigarettes of the brand Business Royals’ King Size.

The cigarettes were found in the storeroom of the bar situated in the centre of Hamrun.

The finds form part of an on going crackdown on contraband items that the department has embarked on.

Customs has also asked the public to report anonymously any places were illegal cigarettes are sold.

Reports can be made on telephone numbers: 25685124 or 25685200.