NICOSIA: Cyprus Customs and Excise Department have denied that there has been a shady cover-up following a massive illegal tobacco trade bust that took place back in October.
Earlier this year, police raided a warehouse in Aradippou and hauls of illegal tobacco worth €2million in unpaid taxes. Six people – including what investigators suspect is a Cypriot operations manager – were arrested in the joint operation between the customs officers and police.
Police later raided more warehouses – being run by a bogus company – seizing more illegal tobacco. The overall seizure has come to just under 20 tonnes making it the biggest haul ever recorded on the island.
Speaking during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, Akel MP Irene Charalambidou spoke of a “cover-up” because the company owner had yet to be found while she also questioned why the foreign workers at the factory have all been deported from Cyprus.
Speaking to state radio on Thursday, Customs Service spokesman Christos Christou dismissed the accusations from parliament arguing that the police had a 35-year-old suspect and that efforts were continuing to unravel “well-drilled operation.”
“The investigations are ongoing and have not stopped,” said Christou. “This is a well-drilled operation which is still being looked into. There is absolutely no question of this case being covered up.”
When asked why the company owner was still at large, he replied, “All the documents that were emplaced to set up the company are false. Even the company cars are registered to a man who we later discovered has nothing to do at all with the company.”
“The 35-year-old suspect is not involved with the company while the foreign workers had their statements taken and their details recorded.”
