Police raids market in Lefkosa, arrest two for selling smuggles products

Two women were arrested in Lefkosa following a raid conducted at a market after they were found selling goods for which custom duties had not been paid including the sales of suspicious substances.

During the operation conducted at the market located in Lefkosa, many food and personal care products for which customs duties had not been paid, as well as suspicious substances, were seized. 

The suspects, A.D. 51, a Turkish Cypriot woman and M.T.A, 31, a Nigerian woman were brought to court on Friday charged with the possession of smuggled goods.

Police officer who testified against them in court said at around 12:0pm on Thursday November 21, 2024, teams from the Narcotics and Smuggling Prevention Directorate conducted an operation at the Baki African Market in Bandabulya, Lefkoşa, managed by A.D. 

During the inspection, authorities seized: 49 items of various smuggled food brands, 463.2 kg of dried fish, 276.6 kg of potatoes, which are banned from entering the TRNC.

Various cosmetics and personal care items, including: 120 units of smuggled personal care products,15 electronic personal care devices, 13 bottles of unidentified brown liquid were found in MAT's possession.

Several other products, including tonkat, royal powder, drip syrup, breast powder, and dietary supplements.

Police reported that both A.D, the owner of the business and M.T.A, who worked at the establishment, were detained. The seized liquids, powders, and syrups have been sent for analysis.

The investigation into A.D has been completed, but the investigation concerning M.T.A remains ongoing. 

The police requested that A.D be released bail as she could not influence the investigation while M.T.A remain in custody for 3 more days.

After evaluating the evidence, the judge ruled that, A.D be released on bail under the conditions that she is banned from travelling abroad, report to the police once in every two weeks,bring a cash deposit of 30,000 TL, bring two guarantors to sign bonds worth 400,000 TL each.

The suspect MTA was ordered to remains in detention for an additional 3 days to allow for the continuation of the investigation.