Kumasi, Sept. 26, GNA- An anti-smuggling team of the Customs, Excise and Prevention Service (CEPS) undertook a special operation in Kumasi on Wednesday and seized uncustomed cigarettes valued at 102.6 million cedis.

The three-hour exercise led by Mr Osmanu Zigani, a Principal Collector of the Service, centred around Allabar area, the central market and Kejetia lorry park where imported cigarettes including London King Size, Bond, Fine and Malboro, displayed on tables were seized from the traders.

Briefing newsmen in Kumasi on Friday, Mr Farouk Adam, Chief Collector, Preventive, said 1,876 cartons of displayed cigarettes were impounded in accordance with customs regulations.

He said five people who had claimed ownership of the items would be made to pay 300 percent penalty on the items and in default the items will be destroyed.

Mr Adam said the exercise would continue to check the influx of foreign cigarettes into the Ghanaian market to protect local cigarette industries.