Customs authorities intercept large-scale tobacco smuggling in Cyprus

Cypriot customs authorities conducted two separate operations on October 1 and October 4, 2026, intercepting significant quantities of duty-free tobacco products at major airports and local premises. During the first incident at Paphos airport on October 1, a British national was arrested for attempting to smuggle 175 cartons containing 35,000 cigarettes. On the same day, another large quantity of tobacco was seized at a premises in the Paralimni-Protaras area. These individuals were released after paying an out-of-court fine of €5,000 each.

The second operation occurred on October 4 at Larnaca airport, involving two Irish nationals, aged 37 and 52, bound for Manchester and London. Authorities confiscated 244 cartons of cigarettes and 9.5 kilograms of rolling tobacco. While the 37-year-old passenger was held in custody to face charges at the Larnaca District Court, the second passenger secured an out-of-court settlement by paying €3,500. All seized items lacked mandatory health warnings and security traceability codes, signaling they were smuggled from the occupied north. The contraband is scheduled for destruction.