Israeli passenger detained at Deryneia crossing for smuggling cigarettes

On August 2, 2026, customs officials intercepted a Turkish Cypriot taxi at the Deryneia crossing point carrying an Israeli passenger headed to Larnaca Airport. During a routine check for Green Line Regulation enforcement, authorities discovered 14 cartons of cigarettes, totaling 2,800 individual units, inside the passenger's luggage.

The seized cigarettes lacked required health warnings in Greek and Turkish, as well as necessary security features and traceability codes, confirming they were untaxed. The passenger was initially arrested for the offenses, but was later released following an out-of-court settlement. The individual paid a fine of 840 euros to resolve the case, while the confiscated tobacco products are slated for destruction according to official protocols.