Newsroom
In a big win against tobacco smuggling, Customs officials and local police have seized a large amount of untaxed tobacco products in Larnaca and Limassol over the past two days.
The operation kicked off on Tuesday, October 1, when Larnaca Customs got a tip about a vehicle near the village of Pyla. When they searched the vehicle, they found an impressive haul: 24 cartons of cigarettes, each holding 200 cigarettes, and 6 kilograms of hookah tobacco. These products were missing the required health warnings in Greek and Turkish and lacked safety features and traceability codes, showing they were untaxed.
The driver was arrested and taken to Larnaca airport, where duty officers took over the case. The suspect appeared in court the next day and received a three-day detention order.
On Wednesday, October 2, Limassol Customs officials followed up after discovering more tobacco products in a vehicle driven by a woman. A search of her home revealed even more contraband: 461 packets of cigarettes, 105 packets of heated cigarettes, and over 6 kilograms of rolling and hookah tobacco. Like the first haul, these items also lacked the necessary health warnings and traceability codes.
After her arrest, the woman was taken to a detention center but later accepted an out-of-court settlement for her offenses. She paid €7,000 and an additional €500 for her vehicle.
These recent busts show the ongoing efforts by Cypriot authorities to tackle the illegal tobacco trade, which poses health risks and undermines public safety. The Customs Department encourages the public to report any suspicious activity related to tobacco products.
