CUSTOMS officials said they had no evidence of a organised bootleg cigarette racket involving Newcastle United fans, despite a number of recent seizures.
It emerged last night that supporters on a flight from Belgrade earlier this month had abandoned thousands of cigarettes at Newcastle Airport.
Fans were flying back from the Champions League first-leg match against Partizan Belgrade.
Fans were warned that bags were to be searched and were offered a chance to deposit anything in excess of the allowance in a bin.
Officers later seized 43,000 cigarettes, worth £10,000, in luggage which was abandoned on a baggage carousel.
Officials said, however, there was no evidence of organised smuggling.
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