Over 250 hairdressing products, as well as a large haul of duty-free tobacco products, were confiscated earlier this week at Ayios Dhometios crossing point and over €5,000 were collected in fines.

On December 2, the customs department stopped a car driven by a 35-year-old Romanian woman and found three large cardboard boxes containing 251 pieces of hairdressing products, for commercial use.

The products were not accompanied by the necessary certification and were confiscated.

The woman paid a €500 fine for an out-of-court settlement.

The products were left at the crossing point to be destroyed.

On December 3, just after midnight, another car was searched at the crossing point and customs officers found large quantities of duty-free tobacco products, which were confiscated.

The officers found 12 cartons of 200 cigarettes each, 55 cartons of heated cigarettes and 1.25kg of rolling tobacco belonging to the 72-year-old driver of the car, as well as seven cartons of 200 cigarettes each, ten cartons of heated cigarettes, 2.45kg of rolling tobacco and ten cigars, which belonged to the 58-year-old passenger.

The driver and the passenger, both Greek Cypriots, were arrested and the car was confiscated.

The driver paid a €3,000 fine and a further €500 for his car and was then released.

The passenger was taken into custody and on December 4 appeared before Nicosia district court, which issued a two-day remand order. He later paid a €1,200 fine and was released.