Cyprus customs authorities are recording a noticeable increase in cases involving the illicit transport of tobacco products from the occupied areas to the government-controlled areas, with Israel considered a possible final destination and with growing involvement of Israeli nationals. The trend has reinforced assessments by the Customs Department of the Republic of Cyprus that an organised smuggling network may be operating and adapting its methods to reduce the risk of detection.
On 12 August, at the Deryneia crossing point, authorities found 15 cartons of 200 cigarettes each — a total of 3,000 cigarettes — in the luggage of an Israeli passenger travelling by taxi, along with three one-kilogram packages of shisha tobacco, totalling 3 kilograms. The products did not carry the required markings, security features or traceability codes. They were seized and are due to be destroyed. The passenger was released after accepting an out-of-court settlement of €2,000.
The trend has reinforced assessments by the Customs Department of the Republic of Cyprus that an organised smuggling network may be operating and adapting its methods to reduce the risk of detection.
Aggregate data point to a rapid shift. In June, Israeli nationals were involved in 41 of 288 tobacco seizure cases, or 14%, but those cases accounted for 22,080 of the 72,620 cigarettes seized in total, around 30%. In July, the number of relevant cases rose to 46 out of 188, or 24.5%, while 20,980 of a total of 42,050 cigarettes seized — nearly 50% — were linked to those cases.
Authorities are examining whether, after the two major seizures in February and November 2025, the network shifted from larger maritime shipments to an “ant smuggling” model, in which smaller quantities are repeatedly transported by multiple travellers.
Source: Philenews
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