80-year-old fined after 200 litres of fuel seized at crossing point
An 80-year-old man was arrested at the Ayios Dhometios crossing after customs officers found 200 litres of fuel concealed in his vehicle during a routine inspection on Thursday.
The customs department said officers discovered ten 20-litre plastic containers in the rear of the vehicle, containing 160 litres of diesel and 40 litres of petrol.
The driver was attempting to enter the government-controlled areas when he was stopped.
Authorities arrested the individual, while the fuel and the vehicle were confiscated as evidence.
He was later released after requesting an out-of-court settlement, paying a €1,000 fine.
Customs officials said the quantity far exceeded permitted limits for personal transport and constituted a clear breach of regulations governing the movement of fuel across crossing points.
They also raised safety concerns over the storage of fuel in improvised containers such as plastic water bottles.