Cyprus customs official chairs international body tackling illicit tobacco trade

Nicosia, Cyprus. Senior customs officer Eliza Fantidou is chairing an international body tackling illicit tobacco trade as the agreement underpinning its work marks eight years in force. The Cyprus customs department said on Friday that the protocol now has 73 parties.

International cooperation

Fantidou has chaired the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products since November 2025, when she was elected at its fourth session in Geneva.

The protocol provides a framework for countries to cooperate in preventing, detecting, investigating and prosecuting illicit trade in tobacco products.

Fantidou said the trade continued to evolve and could not be tackled by countries acting alone. “Illicit trade in tobacco products does not remain static and does not stop at borders. It is like the Hydra: you cut off one head and, at the same time, many more emerge and spread,” she said.

“It fuels criminal networks, undermines public health and deprives governments of vital revenue.”

Call for collective action

Fantidou said addressing the problem required collective commitment, action across sectors and strong international cooperation. She urged parties to use the protocol’s tools, work together and help more countries join. She also encouraged countries that have not joined to do so.

The customs department said cooperation among customs and tax authorities, police and other law enforcement agencies remained crucial because illicit tobacco trade crosses national borders.