CUSTOMS officers have recovered more than 157,000 illegally imported cigarettes in two days at Teesside International Airport.
Passengers arriving at the airport from Tenerife have been greeted by a public address announcement outlining the tobacco and alcohol allowances.
The announcement invited travellers who were carrying more to put the excess tobacco in Customs and Excise bins as they arrived at the airport.
Customs officers from the regional strike force and local anti-smuggling staff have netted cigarettes with a retail value of £35,000.
Colin Fraser, who leads the regional strike force, said: "Many passengers chose to abandon their cigarettes, either in the bins provided, or on the luggage carousel.
"However, we also seized cigarettes from those who tried to run the gauntlet."
For details of allowances, go to www.hmce.gov.uk.
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