Cyprus Times

Smuggling Attempt Foiled at Paphos Airport: Two Passengers Arrested

Published January 25, 2026, 12:03
Smuggling Attempt Foiled at Paphos Airport: Two Passengers Arrested

Two individuals, a Turkish Cypriot and a Bulgarian national, were arrested at Paphos Airport for the illegal possession and transportation of a large quantity of tobacco products. Customs officials discovered a total of 159 cartons of cigarettes in their luggage, which lacked the required health warnings in Greek and Turkish, indicating they were smuggled. The Turkish Cypriot had 72 cartons, while the Bulgarian had 87 cartons and an additional 12 packs. Both passengers have been detained for four days to facilitate the Customs Department's investigation. The case involves duty-free tobacco products intended for the United Kingdom.