Duty-free rolling tobacco, cigarettes and heated cigarettes were seized by the Customs Department at Larnaca Airport, at the Agios Dometio crossing point and at a property in the Larnaca district.
A press release from the Customs Department states that "on March 19, following a relevant check carried out by Customs Department officials at Larnaca airport, they found a total of 90.050 grams of rolling tobacco in the luggage of three persons of Turkish Cypriot origin who were leaving for the United Kingdom Amber Leaf and Old Holborn brands and 64 cartons (12.800 pieces) of Benson & Hedges and Rothmans brand cigarettes. The packages did not carry the legally required smoking hazard label, safety feature and unique traceability code.'
The three persons were arrested for outright customs offenses and the tobacco products were seized as subject to confiscation. The total customs tax burden attributable to the confiscated tobacco products amounts to 19.476 euros.
On Monday, March 20, the three persons were brought before the Larnaca District Court, which issued a three-day detention order.
On the following day, March 21, the individuals in question were again brought before the Larnaca District Court, where the Customs Department filed indictments against them. The District Court of Larnaca tried the cases on the same day and imposed a fine of €1.700 on each of the accused persons.
Moreover, "on Monday, March 20, after a relevant check carried out by Customs Officers at the Agios Dometios Crossing Point, they identified in the possession of a person of Cypriot nationality, who entered with his vehicle from the occupied free areas of the Republic of Cyprus, 36 boxes (7200 pieces) cigarettes, 1.400 grams of rolling tobacco and 1 box (200 pieces) heated cigarettes, of various brands. The packages did not carry the legally required smoking hazard label, safety feature and unique traceability code.'
The specific person was arrested for spontaneous customs offences, while the tobacco products and the vehicle in which he transported them were confiscated as subject to confiscation.
As part of the investigation of the case, "a search was carried out in a livestock property maintained by the same person in a village of Larnaca District, where 119 boxes (23.800 pieces) of cigarettes, 43 boxes (8.600 pieces) of heated cigarettes and 9.950 grams were identified and seized as subject to confiscation rolling tobacco of various brands. The packages in question also did not carry the legally required labeling for the harmful effects of smoking, the safety feature and the unique traceability code."
The total customs burden attributable to the confiscated tobacco products amounts to €8.059.
It is added that "following the arrestee's request, the Director of the Customs Department accepted the out-of-court settlement of the customs offenses committed, with the payment of a total amount of €13.700. The vehicle was returned to its owner with the payment of €300 and with the out-of-court settlement of the case, the man was released."
It is noted that "tobacco products have been abandoned and will be destroyed by the Customs Department in accordance with the prescribed procedures".
Source: KYPE