Customs authorities seize illicit tobacco at Deryneia crossing point

On August 12, 2026, customs officials at the Deryneia crossing point intercepted a Turkish Cypriot taxi transporting an Israeli national to Larnaca Airport. During a search of the passenger's luggage, authorities discovered 15 cartons of cigarettes and 3 kilograms of hookah tobacco. The products lacked mandatory health warning labels in Greek and Turkish, as well as required security markers and traceability codes, identifying them as untaxed contraband.

The Israeli passenger was initially arrested for the offenses but was released after reaching an out-of-court settlement, paying a fine of €2,000. The seized tobacco products are slated for destruction. The Customs Department noted an alarming increase in similar smuggling cases involving Israeli nationals, suggesting a potential organized network transporting illicit tobacco from the occupied areas to Israel. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation as part of their efforts to enforce Green Line regulations.