Lebanese woman detained at a Nicosia checkpoint

A woman from Lebanon was detained at a Nicosia checkpoint on Sunday, following the discovery of hundreds of heated tobacco products in her suitcase.

According to local media, a woman of Lebanese origins was detained by Greek Cypriot customs officers at the Agios Dhometios/Metehan checkpoint after they signaled her taxi driver to stop for inspection.

The taxi, with Turkish Cypriot licence plates, was coming from the north and was bound for Larnaca International airport in the south, according to reports.

During the inspection, officers went through her luggage and discovered 56 packs of 200 heat-not-burn cigarettes in each one, with the woman saying she got them at a Turkish Cypriot location in the north.

According to regulations, the movement of fine-cut tobacco for rolling cigarettes or other smoking tobacco from the north into the Republic of Cyprus in the south is prohibited, except up to the equivalent of 40 cigarettes for personal consumption.

Officers tried to come to a negotiated settlement with the detained person, informing her that the taxes on her products were estimated at €730. But in the end, all tobacco products were confiscated and the woman settled for €1680 in order to be allowed to walk away without any charges against her.

She reportedly continued her trip to Larnaca, empty handed, to catch a flight back to her country.