Customs seize untaxed tobacco at Nicosia crossings, impose €5,090 in fines

Nicosia, Cyprus. Customs agents seized untaxed tobacco products in three cases at the Ledra Street and Ayios Dhometios crossing points between August 23 and 27, imposing out-of-court fines totalling €5,090.

According to a customs department statement issued on Friday, the products were seized for lacking required health warnings, security features and traceability codes.

Ledra Street case

The first case was recorded on August 23 at the Ledra Street crossing during routine checks under the Green Line Regulation.

Officers stopped a woman crossing on foot and found 2.25kg of rolling tobacco in her personal bags. The packages did not carry health warnings in Greek and Turkish and lacked the required security feature and unique traceability code, indicating that the tobacco was untaxed.

The products were seized and will be destroyed in accordance with the prescribed procedure. The woman was initially arrested for offences committed in flagrante delicto and was later released after customs accepted an out-of-court settlement of €790.

Ayios Dhometios case

A second case was recorded on August 25 at the Ayios Dhometios crossing, where customs agents stopped a taxi with Turkish Cypriot registration plates carrying a 39-year-old passenger.

A search of his luggage found 13 cartons containing 200 cigarettes each, totalling 2,600 cigarettes, and four packages containing a total of 40 cigars.

The products lacked the required Greek and Turkish health warnings, security markings and traceability codes and were seized. The 39-year-old was initially arrested and later released after agreeing to pay an €800 out-of-court fine.