**Two Arrests Following Tobacco Seizures in Limassol and Nicosia**
In a coordinated effort by customs officials, two Greek Cypriot men were arrested after significant quantities of suspected duty-free tobacco were seized in Limassol and Nicosia. The operations took place over the weekend and earlier this week, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding the illegal tobacco trade in Cyprus.
The first incident occurred on Sunday when police conducted a search on a vehicle driven by a 64-year-old man in Limassol. Following a tip-off, customs officers were alerted and found a substantial amount of tobacco products in the vehicle. Specifically, they discovered 51 cartons of cigarettes, 83 cartons of heated cigarettes, and 1.7 kilograms of rolling tobacco.
Customs officials noted that the seized products did not display the required health warnings in either Greek or Turkish, nor did they possess the necessary security features and traceability codes. These deficiencies indicated that the duty on the tobacco had not been paid, leading to the man's arrest. Following the arrest, both the tobacco products and the vehicle were confiscated.
The 64-year-old was later released after reaching an out-of-court settlement, which involved a payment of €6,500. Additionally, he paid €500 to recover his vehicle. The seized tobacco is set to be destroyed as part of the customs enforcement process.
In a separate operation on Tuesday, customs investigators targeted a kiosk and a private residence in Nicosia linked to a 53-year-old man. During this search, officials confiscated 137 cartons of cigarettes, 17 cartons of heated cigarettes, and 6.5 kilograms of rolling tobacco. Similar to the previous case, the products lacked the necessary health warnings and security features, reinforcing suspicions regarding their legality.
The 53-year-old was arrested but was also released after paying a settlement of €12,000. Like the first case, the tobacco products seized in this operation will also be destroyed.
These incidents underscore the ongoing challenges faced by customs officials in combating the illegal tobacco trade in Cyprus. The lack of compliance with health regulations and the evasion of duty payments are issues that authorities are actively working to address. The destruction of the seized tobacco products is part of a broader strategy to deter illegal activities and ensure public health standards are upheld.
As the authorities continue to monitor and investigate such activities, the recent arrests serve as a reminder of the importance of compliance with tobacco regulations and the potential legal consequences of engaging in the illegal tobacco trade.