Customs officers at the Ledra Street crossing arrested a man on Sunday after finding 15kg of illicit rolling tobacco hidden in his luggage.
The suspect was intercepted during a routine check as he crossed from the occupied north into government-controlled areas on foot. Officers searched his two bags and discovered they contained nothing but tobacco pouches. The packaging lacked the mandatory health warnings in Greek and Turkish, indicating the goods were duty-free.
Investigators believe the man collected the tobacco in the occupied north and planned to travel to Paphos Airport to smuggle the haul into the United Kingdom.
The man was arrested on the spot for flagrant offences, and the tobacco was seized as evidence. He appeared before the Nicosia District Court on Monday, which ordered his remand for two days to assist with the investigation.
The Customs Department’s investigation sector has taken over the case to determine if the suspect is part of a wider smuggling ring.
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