Authorities in northern Cyprus seize six tons of smuggled meat

On September 16, 2026, authorities in the northern part of Cyprus conducted a coordinated operation that led to the seizure of approximately six tons of meat, consisting primarily of dozens of sheep carcasses. The illicit shipment, which had been smuggled from the Republic of Cyprus into the northern territories, was discovered during raids on a warehouse belonging to a 41-year-old individual in Diorios, as well as at three separate locations in Kyrenia and an additional site in Mia Milia.

The Turkish Cypriot Association of Producers and Livestock Breeders issued a statement following the raid, highlighting that this seizure is the culmination of years of warnings regarding the unchecked smuggling of meat. The association criticized the local "ministry of agriculture" for failing to address the issue, noting that such illegal activities cause significant tax revenue losses, undermine local livestock farmers, and pose severe public health risks due to the lack of oversight on the origins and handling of the products. The organization is now calling for a thorough investigation into the scale of the smuggling trade, which they claim has been ongoing for at least three years.