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The Nicosia District Court fined an 80-year-old man €8,000 after he was caught smuggling a large quantity of untaxed cigarettes through the Agios Dometios crossing, customs authorities said.
Customs officers stopped the man on Aug. 21 as he traveled by taxi from the north to Larnaca Airport and found 67 cartons of cigarettes in his luggage. The court ordered his detention and later imposed the fine, noting his involvement in four similar cases in the past six weeks. The cigarettes were seized and will be destroyed.
Two additional cases were reported the following days. On Aug. 22, police in the Famagusta free area stopped a 58-year-old driver carrying 57 cartons of cigarettes and more than 2.6 kilograms of rolling tobacco. He settled the case out of court with a €5,000 fine.
On Aug. 23, customs officers again at Agios Dometios intercepted a repeat offender transporting heated cigarettes and rolling tobacco. A later search of his home uncovered additional quantities. He paid €3,500 in an out-of-court settlement.
The Customs Department said all seized products lacked mandatory health warnings, security features and traceability codes, confirming they were untaxed.
With information from CNA.
