Large quantities of cigarettes made in Cyprus are smuggled into Britain and Ireland and sold at half the price of trade, according to the Financial Times. The newspaper writes that the smuggling of cigarettes is done by smugglers, who make frequent trips to Cyprus, but also to other Eastern European countries, where the prices of cigarettes are lower and they hide them in boxes with other goods. The British customs authorities estimate that one in 10 cigarettes is imported illegally, with a tax loss of 2,5 billion euros in 2011.
Υπ. Justice: The issue of cigarette smuggling is closely monitored
The issue of cigarette smuggling has been the concern of the Police for years and in cooperation with the customs authorities the issue is being closely monitored, said the Minister of Justice Ionas Nikolaou, answering a question for an article in the Financial Times about cigarette smuggling in Cyprus.
"Such complaints from the English press have been made from time to time and in fact they unfortunately indicate that cigarettes are being smuggled from our place," he said, speaking on the sidelines of his visit to MMAD.
He added that an effort is being made to gather all the information necessary to investigate such a case. He said he was repeatedly asked by the British authorities to submit any information in their possession.
He assured that the effort and concern of the Ministry is always whether such an activity occurs in the place to be prosecuted.
The Minister of Justice also stated that at least the necessary measures should be taken to establish with certainty that such a thing does not happen, while if it does, all those who are found to be involved in such crimes will be prosecuted.
Source: FILELEFTHEROS