Smuggling Meat and Cigarettes Stopped at Two Cyprus Checkpoints

Authorities intercepted two separate cases of smuggling at checkpoints between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Republic of Cyprus. At the Derinya checkpoint in Famagusta, customs officials seized 40 kilograms of meat, while at the Bostancı (Astromeritis) checkpoint in Güzelyurt, they confiscated 139 packs of tobacco and 39 cartons of cigarettes.

According to a statement from the police, customs officers at the Derinya checkpoint found 20 kilograms of pork and 20 kilograms of chicken in the suitcase of a 49-year-old man in the evening in question. These items are prohibited from being imported into the TRNC. The suspect was attempting to smuggle the meat from the Republic of Cyprus into the TRNC. He was detained, and the seized items were taken as evidence.

On the same day, during a vehicle inspection at the Bostancı checkpoint, officials discovered 39 cartons of cigarettes, 185 packs of tobacco, 81 packs of sticks for electronic smoking devices, and one kilogram of hookah tobacco. A 54-year-old man was caught attempting to smuggle these products from the TRNC into the Republic of Cyprus.

All confiscated items were retained as evidence, and criminal charges have been filed against both individuals.

Related Article: What items are prohibited from crossing the Green Line between the TRNC and Cyprus?