Authorities yesterday seized over a hundred cartons of 555 brand cigarettes carrying neither warning labels nor import seals from two shops in Kampot town.

According to Kampot provincial deputy prosecutor Muth Dara, the operation was conducted following complaints by tobacco companies, prompting authorities to intervene and inspect the cigarettes.

“One hundred and forty-three cartons containing a total of about 1,430 cigarette packets were seized from two shops, Heng Dy and An Co,” Dara said. “They have no health warning signs . . . and no import seal on the cases.”

Hem Chandra, with the Kampot provincial military police, said the cigarettes were found disguised in Mevius and Fine cigarette packaging. “The two shop owners said they ordered those illegal cigarettes from Phnom Penh, and they do not know whether they were illegally imported or banned by the Ministry of Health,” he said.

Cormac O’Rourke, general manager of Japan Tobacco International, said he was “happy” to hear of the bust. “The crackdown . . . builds tremendous trust for tobacco investment in Cambodia,” he said.