SPIES IN CIGARETTE SCAM SACKED

Romania's Special Security Services, once one of Europe's most loathed and
feared intelligence agencies, is to undergo serious downsizing after being
implicated in a multi-million pound cigarette smuggling scandal. Anghel
Andreescu, appointed SPP director last month at the height of the scandal,
said 369 people would lose their jobs in the initial phase of a
restructuring - a 24% cut.

The SPP came under scrutiny after one of its top officers was arrested over
the shipment to Bucharest airport last month of 30 million illicit
cigarettes.

Checked-by: Richard Lake