An ancient bible dating back to 1795 AD was handed to the antiquities department by the customs department on Tuesday following a ruling by Nicosia district court.

The book was seized by customs officers in June 2018 during a vehicle check at the Ayios Dhometios checkpoint when a Greek-Cypriot attempted to smuggle it from the north.

Following the find, an investigation was launched by the police and the department of antiquities.

The case ultimately ended up at Nicosia district court which at the end of January 2025, decided that the book should be handed over to the antiquities department.

The customs department said the handover of the book was part of ongoing efforts to “protect the cultural heritage of Cyprus and to combat the illicit trafficking of antiquities”.