Customs seize duty-free nargileh tobacco at two Cyprus crossing points

Dherynia, Cyprus. Customs agents confiscated duty-free nargileh tobacco during vehicle searches at the Dherynia and Ayios Dhometios crossing points on Monday.

Dherynia crossing point

Customs said agents stopped a vehicle with Turkish Cypriot registration plates, driven by a Turkish Cypriot who was taking an Israeli passenger to Larnaca airport.

During an inspection of the passenger’s luggage, agents found 7.4kg of duty-free nargileh tobacco. The Israeli passenger was arrested and later released after reaching an out-of-court settlement of €2,600.

Ayios Dhometios crossing point

At the Ayios Dhometios crossing point, agents stopped a vehicle driven by a Greek Cypriot and found 2.4kg of duty-free nargileh tobacco from Nepal.

The vehicle was seized and later released after an out-of-court settlement of €850, along with a further €150 payment for the release of the car.

Confiscation

Customs initially said almost 5kg of tobacco had been confiscated, while the quantities detailed in the two cases totalled 9.8kg. The tobacco products were confiscated and are to be destroyed.