Cypriot authorities seize large quantity of illicit tobacco products in Pyla

On November 2, 2026, a 26-year-old Turkish Cypriot man was arrested in the Pyla area of Larnaca district after law enforcement officers discovered a significant quantity of untaxed tobacco products in his vehicle. The operation was conducted following a tip-off from members of the Larnaca OPE (Special Tasks of Pyla) unit to the Larnaca Customs Department.

Upon transferring the vehicle to the Oroklini Police Station, authorities inventoried the seized items: 150 cartons of cigarettes (200 cigarettes each), approximately 68.4 kilograms of rolling tobacco, and 62 kilograms of hookah tobacco. Officials noted that the packaging lacked mandatory health warnings in Greek and Turkish, as well as the required security features and traceability codes, confirming the goods were illicit and untaxed.

Following his arrest for flagrant offenses, the suspect appeared before the Larnaca District Court on the morning of November 3. The court issued an order for his three-day detention to facilitate further investigation. The Customs Department, in cooperation with local police, is continuing its probe into the matter, and the seized items are scheduled to be destroyed according to established legal procedures.