Dialogos

Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Customs Service Received No Information on Illegal Animal Transport

Published February 25, 2026, 09:01
Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Customs Service Received No Information on Illegal Animal Transport

The Customs Service has not received any information regarding illegal transport of products from the occupied territories that could be linked to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the free areas, said service spokesman Giorgos Konstantinou. He added that if a complaint with accurate information is submitted, it will be investigated. Mr. Konstantinou stated that due to the extent of the ceasefire line, there are many unprotected areas from which smuggling can occur. Although the Police locate some points, smugglers are constantly finding new ones, avoiding patrols by the UN, the Police and the National Guard. He expressed the opinion that it is premature to place blame, emphasizing the need for police investigation to determine if livestock feed was transported from the occupied territories before assigning responsibility to farmers or other services. He stressed the importance of cautious statements. This statement highlights the difficulty in controlling illegal transport along the ceasefire line and the need for cooperation between relevant authorities to prevent the introduction of diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease.