Two Spanish passengers were held at Paphos airport over undeclared tobacco as customs officers acted on gathered intelligence during their departure to Manchester, United Kingdom.
Photo: en.philenews.com
- Two Spanish passengers were held at Paphos airport over undeclared tobacco as customs officers acted on gathered intelligence during their departure to Manchester, United Kingdom.
On June 13, customs officers intercepted the pair before they could board their flight. Upon inspecting their luggage, officers discovered large quantities of rolling tobacco that lacked essential health warnings in Greek and Turkish, as well as necessary security features indicating they were duty unpaid.
Undeclared tobacco: Seizures and Arrests
The first passenger had 469 packages of rolling tobacco, each weighing 50 grammes, culminating in a total weight of 23.45kg. Following the discovery, he was arrested for offences detected in the act. His luggage and its contents were seized but he was later released after agreeing to an out-of-court settlement of €8,000.
The second passenger was found with 491 packages of rolling tobacco, totalling 24.55kg. He was also arrested, and his luggage was seized. He was taken to Paphos District Court for a remand order to facilitate ongoing investigations.
Another Case at Ayios Dhometios
In a separate incident on the same day, customs officers at the Ayios Dhometios crossing point apprehended a Turkish Cypriot carrier attempting to cross into the government-controlled areas on foot, accompanied by a couple and an infant.
During a routine check, officers discovered that their stroller and bags were filled with cigarette packets. The packets also failed to display health warnings in Greek and Turkish, along with the required security features, indicating they were also duty unpaid. In total, 200 packets of 20 cigarettes each were seized, equivalent to 20 dismantled cartons.
The individual carrying the cigarettes, who held a British passport, was arrested. Similar to the first passenger at Paphos, he was later released after proposing an out-of-court settlement for €1,200.
