Pills and gels of stimulant substances, packages of pesticides, boxes of cigarettes and tobacco were seized by members of the Customs Department over the last ten days, as part of the controls they carry out.
Specifically, according to an announcement by the Customs Department, on February 4, 2025, Customs Department officers proceeded to inspect a vehicle driven by a Greek Cypriot at the Astromeritis - Zodias crossing point during its passage from the occupied to the free areas.
During the inspection of the vehicle, various packages of medication were located and seized, containing a total of 274 pills and 21 gels of stimulant substances, as well as 3 packages of pesticides with a total quantity of 300 grams, the movement of which is prohibited under the Green Line Regulations.
The above items were seized and abandoned by the person involved for destruction, while his vehicle was also seized as a means of transporting the prohibited substances.
The case was settled out of court with the payment of €1.300 and the vehicle was returned with the payment of an additional €200.
In the announcement, the Customs Department recommends that the public avoid purchasing pharmaceuticals or pesticides from the occupied territories, as in addition to the prohibitions set by the Green Line Regulations, there is a serious possibility of endangering their health from dubious quality preparations that require a doctor's prescription, as well as causing damage to agricultural crops and the environment in general from substances whose circulation has been banned in the European Union.
Additionally, the Customs Department, referring to the significant cases of seizures of tobacco products that were handled in the last 10 days, points out that on February 4, 2025, following an assessment of information, Customs Department officers proceeded to search a parked vehicle in a village south of Nicosia.
According to the announcement by the Customs Department, during the search of the 68-year-old Greek Cypriot's vehicle, which the Customs Department has also engaged in in the past, a total of 700 boxes of 200 cigarettes each, 101 boxes of heated cigarettes and 14 kilograms and 250 grams of rolling tobacco were located and seized, which did not bear the markings 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 vehicle was seized as a means of transporting tobacco products and the driver was arrested for committing flagrante delicto. He was later released after his proposal for an out-of-court settlement in relation to the offences and the return of the vehicle was accepted.
Meanwhile, according to the announcement of the Customs Department, on January 27, following an assessment of information, Customs Department officers proceeded to search a warehouse located within a nursery school in Engomi.
During the investigation, in the presence of the warehouse owner, 6 boxes of 200 cigarettes each, 58 boxes of heated cigarettes, 5 kilograms and 700 grams of rolling tobacco and 250 grams of hookah tobacco were located and seized, 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 owner of the warehouse was arrested for flagrant offenses and later released after paying the amount of €5.000 for an out-of-court settlement of the offenses.
Furthermore, according to the announcement of the Customs Department, on February 3, in collaboration with the Nicosia Regional Police and after evaluating relevant information, Customs Department officers conducted a search of a warehouse in an apartment building in Strovolos, in the presence of its 49-year-old tenant.
During the search of the warehouse, 340 boxes of 200 cigarettes each, 44 boxes of heated cigarettes and 7 kilograms and 900 grams of rolling tobacco were located and seized, 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 suspect was arrested for flagrant offenses.
In a subsequent search of the suspect's vehicle, an additional 74 boxes of 200 cigarettes each, 86 boxes of heated cigarettes and 1 kilo and 750 grams of rolling tobacco were located and seized. The vehicle was seized as a means of transporting illegal tobacco products.
With the suspect's written consent, a search was also carried out at his home, where another 4 kilos and 500 grams of rolling tobacco were located and seized. The suspect was later released, after proposing the payment of €39.000 for the out-of-court settlement of the offenses and €1.000 for the return of the vehicle.
On the same day, a search was carried out at the home of the 54-year-old owner of the warehouse, in the same apartment building, where 22 boxes of 200 cigarettes each, 1 box of heated cigarettes and 3 kilos and 300 grams of rolling tobacco were located and seized, which did not bear the markings about the harmfulness of smoking in Greek and Turkish, nor the security feature and the unique traceability code, indications that they were duty-free.
The second suspect was also arrested for flagrant offenses, while he was later released upon payment of €4.000 for the out-of-court settlement of the offenses.
Source: KYPE
