Huge quantities of smuggled tobacco products have been seized amongst other goods within the last ten days, the customs department said on Thursday.

A significant amount was seized during the inspection of a vehicle at the Astromeritis-Zodias checkpoint on Tuesday. The driver, a Greek Cypriot, was crossing from the north to the south when authorities stopped him.

Police reported that various medication of a total of 274 pills, 21 gels of stimulant substance and 300 grams of pesticides were found. Both goods and the vehicle were seized. The case was settled out of court with a payment of €1,300 and an additional €200 to redeem the vehicle.

Customs reported another find of a total of 700 boxes with 200 cigarettes each, 101 boxes of heated cigarettes and 14.25 kilogrammes of rolling tobacco on the same day. The tobacco products were found in the car of a Greek Cypriot man parked in a village close to Nicosia.

Again, both the goods and the vehicle were seized. The 68-year-old was arrested for smuggling the goods and later released after an out-of-court settlement.

Another find of tobacco products was reported on January 27 in a warehouse of a nursery school in Engomi. There, authorities seized six boxes of 200 cigarettes each, 58 boxes of heated cigarettes, 5.7kgs of rolling tobacco and 250kgs of hookah tobacco. None of the products bore the required health warnings required in Greek and Turkish.

After his arrest, the owner of the warehouse settled for an out-of-court agreement of €5,000 and was released.

Police reported another extensive find in a rented warehouse in Strovolos on February 3. During the search, 340 boxes of 200 cigarettes each, 44 boxes of heated cigarettes and 7.9 grammes of rolling tobacco were found.

After the suspect was arrested, police expanded their search to the 49-year-old suspect’s car and home. There, 6.25kgs of rolling tobacco, 74 boxes of cigarettes and 86 boxes of heated cigarettes were found. The vehicle was seized and the suspect released after paying €39,000 plus an additional € 1,000 for the return of the vehicle.

Later, police carried out a search at the home of said warehouse owner’s home. Reportedly, they seized another 22 boxes of cigarettes, 1 box of heated cigarettes and 3.3kgs of rolling tobacco. The suspect was too arrested and later released upon payment of €4,000 in an out-of-court-settlement.