Customs declare war on fuel bought in north

[Paphos Life]

The customs department said on Wednesday it would step up checks on vehicles at crossing points and seize fuel bought in the north.The department warned that vehicles could even be confiscated....

Read the article and chat about it below...

[trevnhil]

So is the fuel bought in the North different than the fuel in the South. Or at least different enough to show on a fuel test ?

[kansas]

I suspect they'll be looking for jerry cans in the boot.

[Kili01]

It appears from reading the newspaper report is that it is mainly diesel vehicles which are being targetted which are mainly driven by Cypriots. Apparently as well as being cheaper in the north, the diesel sold in The north has a higher sulphate content which can be tested for.
If it is proved, either the jerry cans containing the fuel. Or even the car itself, if this fuel is found in The vehicle’s fuel tank can be confiscated. The driver would face prosecution.
Dee

[Mike J]

Drove thru the Nicosia road crossing from Kyrenia this morning. You clear passport control on the Turkish side but the old system of then taking the inside lane if you had a Republic of Cyprus number plate and driving happily passed all the Turkish cars still in a queue is now blocked off. Instead you join the queue. Once through passport control on the Republic side you drive again in a single lane passed a newly placed portacabin ( with aircon) and a large awning under which were sat about 4 customs men in uniform. They weren't stopping anyone but it took far longer to get thru than in the past and at busy times it will be a real problem maybe deterring people who just cross to fill up . 95 petrol is TL4.30 a litre over there and with TL6 to the UK£ at the moment it is quite a saving on the €1.33 here. However what is clear, certainly on this side is we now have a formal border with passport control and customs just like at an airport. Not quite in the spirit of the agreement perhaps?

[jeba]

So what are you supposed to do if you run out of fuel when in the North? Push your car across the border?

[Dominic]

I would imagine they expect you to fill up beforehand. If you need more petrol in the north, just buy an appropriate amount. I doubt if they would get excited if you returned with 1/4 of a tank.

[Kili01]

How can they prove whether the petrol in your tank is bought in the north unless it is a different colour to that sold in the south? The Cy Mail repirt said that it was diesel fuel which they can test.

Dee

[jeba]

I guess it would make more financial sense to check whether diesel cars are running on heating diesel rather than "Eurodiesel".

[galexinda]

The giveaway is a full/nearly full tank of fuel when you enter the South. Often drive to the North and back staying there for a few days on one tank of petrol and my vehicle only has a 45 litre capacity.