Customs officers at Paphos International Airport intercepted two Israeli passengers on 21 September carrying a combined 5,800 cigarettes that lacked the mandatory Greek- and Turkish-language health warnings, security holograms and traceability codes. The contraband—29 cartons in total—was discovered during targeted luggage checks triggered by advance-information sharing between Cypriot and Israeli authorities. The passengers were arrested on the spot, but subsequently released after paying administrative fines of €1,140 and €600 respectively. The cigarettes, valued at roughly €1,300 in unpaid duties and taxes, will be destroyed under customs-enforcement protocols. While the amounts involved are modest, the case underscores the stepped-up enforcement environment travellers now face at Cypriot ports of entry. Since January, Cyprus Customs has deployed new AI-assisted risk-profiling software at both Larnaca and Paphos airports, leading to a 37 % year-on-year increase in seizures of duty-unpaid tobacco and alcohol. For business travellers, the incident is a reminder that Cyprus adheres strictly to EU excise-duty rules despite its non-Schengen status. Multinational firms moving staff through Paphos—often used for quick access to the island’s tech corridors—should brief employees on duty-free allowances (200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos) and ensure adherence to “green-lane” declarations. Failure to comply can lead not only to fines but also to travel-history flags that complicate future visa or residence-permit applications. The Ministry of Finance has reiterated that enhanced customs checks will continue in the run-up to the 2026/27 tourist high season, aiming to curb illicit trade and align Cyprus with EU anti-smuggling benchmarks ahead of Schengen evaluation rounds.
Source: Sigmalive English
