Blocks or streams consisting of one or more layers of cigarettes can be transported by one or more endless conveyors wherein an endless band-like or rim-like carrier is surrounded by a pile of elastically deformable bristles which engage and entrain the adjacent layer or layers of cigarettes when the conveyors are in motion. The conveyors may be used to evacuate selected blocks of arrayed cigarettes from a packing machine or to cooperate with each other or with conventional belt conveyors in order to transport cigarettes sideways to the inlet of the magazine in a packing machine.