Two people were arrested at Paphos airport on Wednesday after being found to have in their possession large quantities of tobacco products for which the requisite taxes had not been paid, the police said on Thursday.

The first arrest was made at around 4pm, when at 47-year-old man who had arrived at the airport with the intention of boarding an outbound flight was found to have 61 cartons of untaxed cigarettes in his possession.

A little under two hours later, at 5.50pm, a 42-year-old woman, who had also travelled to the airport with the intention of boarding an outbound flight, was found to have 65 packs of untaxed cigarettes in her luggage.

Both people remain in custody.  

In most cases, tobacco products are found to have not been taxed as they do not bear markings placed on tobacco products by the Republic of Cyprus’ authorities, and they do not bear the safety warnings written in both Turkish and Greek.

Such products are typically imported into the north and then transferred over the Green Line and out of Cyprus via one of the Republic of Cyprus’ two airports.