Customs seize hundreds of items, impose fines

By Becky Kammitsi

The customs department said Monday it had seized 21,380 cigarettes, 25.8kg of rolling tobacco, 230 cigars, 400 Heets and 14 vehicles between June 1-30.

They also seized 1,496 pieces of clothing, footwear, wallets and bags.

Protective, masks, thermometers, sunglasses, medicines, dairy products, electronic devices, electronic cigarettes and electronic cigarette accessories were also seized.

None of the items had taxes and duties paid.

Customs did not say where the items were seized.

A number of the cases have been settled out of court, paying a total of €53,235.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.