According to an official announcement, on 21/9/2026, officers of the Customs Department, as part of the routine checks they carry out for the implementation of the Green Line Regulation at the Deryneia Crossing Point, stopped for inspection a vehicle with Turkish Cypriot registration plates driven by a Turkish Cypriot and transporting an Israeli passenger to Larnaca Airport.
During the inspection of the passenger's luggage, packages of hookah tobacco weighing a total of 7 kilograms and 400 grams were found, which did not bear the warning about the harmful effects of smoking in Greek and Turkish, nor the security feature and the unique traceability code, indications that they were duty-free.
The tobacco products were seized and will follow the prescribed destruction procedure. The person involved was initially arrested for the flagrant offenses, while he was later released after his proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the cases was accepted, with the payment of a total amount of €2,600.
Also on 21/9/2026, at the Agios Dometios Crossing Point, Customs Department officers stopped a vehicle driven by a Greek Cypriot for inspection.
During the inspection of the passenger's luggage, packages of hookah tobacco originating in Nepal, totaling 2 kilograms and 400 grams, were found, which did not bear the marking on the harmfulness of smoking in Greek and Turkish, nor the security feature and the unique traceability code, indications that they were duty-free.
The tobacco products were seized and will follow the prescribed destruction procedure. The vehicle used to transport the contraband tobacco was also seized. The person involved was initially arrested for the flagrant offenses, while he was later released, after his proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the cases was accepted, with the payment of an amount of €850 euros plus an amount of €150 for the return of the vehicle.
