Filenews 23 March 2023
Duty-free tobacco for roll-your-own cigarettes, cigarettes and heated cigarettes were seized by the Department of Customs and Excise at Larnaka airport, at the Agios Dometios crossing point and at a premises in the Larnaca district.
A press release from the Department of Customs and Excise stated that "on March 19, after a relevant check carried out by officers of the Department of Customs and Excise at Larnaka airport, they found in the luggage of three persons, of Turkish Cypriot origin, who were to depart for the United Kingdom, a total of 90,050 grams of roll-your-own tobacco brand Amber Leaf and Old Holborn and 64 cartons (12,800 pieces) of Benson & Hedges and Rothmans brand cigarettes. The packages did not carry the statutory marking for smoking harm, the safety feature and the unique traceability identifier."
The three people were arrested for flagrant customs offences and the tobacco products were seized as subjects for confiscation. The total customs duty burden attributable to the seized tobacco products amounts to €19, 476.
On Monday, March 20, the three persons were brought before the Larnaca District Court, which issued a three-day detention order.
The following day, March 21, these individuals were brought again before the Larnaca District Court, where the Department of Customs and Excise proceeded to file indictments against them. The Larnaca District Court heard the cases on the same day and imposed a fine of €1,700 on each of the accused persons.
Moreover, "on Monday, March 20, after a relevant check carried out by Customs Officers at the Crossing Point of Agios Dometios, they found in the possession of a person of Cypriot nationality, who entered with his vehicle from the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus, 36 boxes (7200 pieces) of cigarettes, 1,400 grams of roll-your-own tobacco and 1 box (200 pieces) of heated cigarettes, various brands. The packages did not carry the statutory marking for smoking harm, the safety feature and the unique traceability identifier."
This person was arrested for committing customs offences, while the tobacco products and the vehicle in which he was transporting them were confiscated as subjects for confiscation.
In the context of the investigation of the case, "a search was carried out in a livestock premises maintained by the same person in a village in the Larnaca District, where 119 boxes (23,800 pieces) of cigarettes, 43 cartons (8,600 pieces) of heated cigarettes and 9,950 grams of roll-your-own tobacco of various brands were found and seized as subjects for confiscation. These packages also did not carry the legally required smoking harm labelling, the safety feature and the unique traceability identifier."
The total customs duty burden attributable to the seized tobacco products amounts to €8,059.
It is added that "at the request of the arrested person, the Director of the Department of Customs and Excise accepted the out-of-court settlement of the customs offences committed, with the payment of the total amount of €13,700. The vehicle was returned to its owner with the payment of an amount of €300 and with the out-of-court settlement of the case the man was released".
It is noted that "the tobacco products have been abandoned and will be destroyed by the Department of Customs and Excise in accordance with the prescribed procedures".
