Large Seizure of Tobacco Products Following Highway Chase

A large quantity of untaxed tobacco products was seized by authorities after a highway chase of a commercial van. The tax duties evaded are estimated to be over €100,000.

According to a press release from the Customs Department, the chase began after police notified them about a commercial vehicle with Turkish Cypriot registration plates. The driver was a 37-year-old Bulgarian national, with a 39-year-old Turkish Cypriot woman as a passenger.

Inside the van, authorities found 635 cartons of cigarettes (200 cigarettes per carton), 200 cartons of heated tobacco products (200 per carton), 5 cartons of cigarillos (200 per carton), 96.5 kg of rolling tobacco, and 102 kg of hookah tobacco. The products did not have the required health warnings in Greek and Turkish.

The case is being investigated by the Police in collaboration with the Customs Department, due to serious traffic violations and malicious damage.