Two individuals remanded in custody following tobacco smuggling pursuit in Nicosia

The Nicosia District Court has ordered an eight-day remand for two individuals, a 37-year-old Bulgarian man and a 39-year-old Turkish Cypriot woman, following an incident on March 31, 2026. Authorities intercepted a van with Turkish Cypriot license plates entering government-controlled areas from the north near Lympia, leading to a high-speed pursuit through the Iidali, Pera Chorio, and Latsia regions. Police were forced to use their service weapons to deflate the vehicle's tires after it collided with patrol cars. A subsequent search revealed 127,000 cigarettes, 40,000 heated tobacco units, 96.5 kilograms of rolling tobacco, 102 kilograms of shisha tobacco, and 1,000 cigarillos. The total unpaid duties for these items are estimated to exceed 100,000 euros. The suspects face charges including reckless driving, illegal possession and transport of untaxed goods, and malicious damage. The Nicosia CID and the Department of Customs are conducting a joint investigation into the incident.