Smuggling reigns supreme amid Cyprus chaos

Cigarette and tobacco smuggling is booming in Cyprus, costing the state millions of euro in uncollected taxes, according to a story in the Cyprus Mail quoting members of parliament.

Known individuals are said to be behind the illegal trade.

The House Watchdog Committee discussed the illegal trade in the wake of the seizure of 19.5 tonnes of tobacco and 63 boxes of 10,000 cigarettes at Aradippou in October, the largest haul to date.

“Let us not hide our heads in the sand,” AKEL MP Irini Charalambidou said. “There is a smuggling ring and there are known individuals hiding behind it.”

Charalambidou said chaos reigned supreme. “Non-existent individuals register companies, non-existent individuals pay for car road tax, (state) services do not co-ordinate,” she said.

So far, only one person has been arrested in connection with the Aradippou seizure.