Highway Chase: Illegal Tobacco Products Worth Over ā¬100,000 Seized
The Department of Customs seized illegal tobacco products with duties and taxes exceeding ā¬100,000 from a van, following a highway chase.
According to the Department of Customs, on 31/3/2026, following a chase, boxes containing tobacco products were found in a commercial vehicle with Turkish Cypriot registration plates. The vehicle was driven by a 37-year-old Bulgarian national with a 39-year-old Turkish Cypriot as a passenger.
Upon inspection of the vehicle, it was found that the packaging of the tobacco products did not bear health warnings in Greek and Turkish, indicating that they were untaxed. The following were confiscated:
- 635 cartons of 200 cigarettes each
- 200 cartons of 200 heated cigarettes each
- 5 cartons containing 200 cigarillos each
- Packages of tobacco for rolling cigarettes with a total weight of 96 kilograms and 500 grams
- Packages of shisha tobacco with a total weight of 102 kilograms
The case is being investigated by the Police in cooperation with the Department of Customs.