PARIS: A French man has been fined €400 after he was caught attempting to smuggle a Turkish mainlander through the Black Knight crossing point in Strovilia in the boot of his hire car last Friday.
The discovery was made by SBA Customs and Immigration officers during a routine car search and both men were immediately arrested and taken to the Dhekelia police station for further questioning by Customs officials.
During questioning, both men admitted to knowing that a Visa was required for a Turkish national to enter the SBAs and the Republic of Cyprus, so they attempted to find a way across without the correct documentation.
The men claimed their intention was to visit tourist sites within the RoC which the Turkish national had not seen, before returning to the Turkish Controlled Areas later in the day.
During a special sitting of the SBA Court in Dhekelia on November 19, the Turkish mainlander pleaded guilty to being a prohibited migrant within the SBAs and was given a three month custodial sentence suspended for two years and he was returned to Turkish Controlled Areas immediately.
After pleading guilty to aiding a prohibited migrant to enter the SBAs and upon paying his fine, the French national returned to France on Saturday night.
Andy Reed, Head of Customs and Immigration in Dhekelia, said: “The checks and searches conducted by SBA Customs and Immigration officers are to combat the illegal movement of people and commodities across the ‘Green Line’.
“They provide the first line of security for both the SBAs and the RoC and this was a naïve attempt to illegally gain entry to the SBAs.
“The actions taken by my officers and the sentence handed out by the SBA Court should be a deterrent to those who may attempt to smuggle goods or people for a more sinister purpose into the SBA or the RoC and think that the SBA crossing points are a softer option.”
