In connection with seizures of untaxed tobacco products at the crossing points to the occupied territories on Ledra Street and Agios Dometios, the Customs Department took action in three instances between August 23 and 27, imposing out-of-court fines totaling €5,090.
Specifically, in a statement released today, the Customs Department reports that on August 23, 2026, Customs Department officials, as part of their routine inspections to enforce the Green Line Regulation at the Ledra Street Crossing Point, stopped a pedestrian, to inspect the goods in her possession.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
It adds that during the inspection of the pedestrian’s personal bags, packages of tobacco for hand-rolled cigarettes were found, weighing a total of 2 kilograms and 250 grams, which did not bear the health warning regarding the dangers of smoking in Greek and Turkish, nor did they bear the security feature or the unique traceability code, indications that they were untaxed.
According to the Department, the tobacco products were seized and will undergo the prescribed destruction procedure.
It reports that the woman passing through was initially arrested for the offenses committed in flagrante delicto, but was later released after her proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the case was accepted, involving the payment of €790.
Furthermore, on August 25, 2026, Customs Department officials, as part of their routine inspections to enforce the Green Line Regulation at the Agios Dometios Crossing Point, a taxi with Turkish Cypriot license plates carrying a 39-year-old man.
During the inspection of the passenger’s luggage, according to the Customs Department, 13 cartons—each containing 200 cigarettes—and 4 packs of cigars totaling 40 pieces were found, which did not bear the health warning about the dangers of smoking in Greek and Turkish, nor did they bear the security feature or the unique traceability code, indicating that they were untaxed.
The tobacco products were seized and will undergo the prescribed destruction procedure.
It is also reported that the individual involved was initially arrested for the offenses committed in the act, but was later released after his proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the case was accepted, upon payment of €800.
Finally, on August 27, 2026, Customs Department officials, also at the Agios Dometios Crossing Point, stopped a taxi with Turkish Cypriot license plates for inspection; the vehicle was carrying a 60-year-old man and his family.
In its announcement, the Customs Department stated that during the inspection of the passengers’ luggage, 44 boxes—each containing 200 cigarettes—andtobacco for hand-rolled cigarettes with a total weight of 2 kilograms and 575 grams, which did not bear the warning labels about the dangers of smoking in Greek and Turkish, nor did they bear the security feature or the unique traceability code—indications that they were untaxed.
The tobacco products were seized and will undergo the prescribed destruction process.
According to the Department, the suspect was initially arrested for the offenses committed in flagrante delicto, but was later released after his proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the case was accepted, with the payment of €3,500.
