Cyprus Police 10 September 2023
A notice to pay a sum of €4,000 was issued to a 58-year-old man, who was found to be in possession of a quantity of duty-free tobacco products. In his possession were found 33 boxes and 10 packets of tobacco, 10 boxes and 10 packets of cigarettes, and 2 boxes of heated cigarettes. The 58-year-old was spotted driving a car in an area of Limassol, shortly after 10.30 this morning and was stopped for a check by members of the OPE Limassol, following information about the illegal possession of duty-free cigarettes. In a search of his vehicle, duty-free tobacco products were found, which were seized.
Upon completion of the investigations and after the members of the Police informed the Customs Department about it, customs officials issued the 58-year-old extrajudicial notice to pay the sum of €4,000, for the possession of the duty-free tobacco products found.* * * * * *
Filenews 11 September 2023
The Police seized a quantity of cannabis weighing approximately 13.5 kilos yesterday, following a coordinated operation by the Anti-Narcotics Service – YKAN, in Limassol.
During the operation, three persons were arrested, against whom a drug trafficking case is being investigated.
Specifically, following information about the trafficking of a large quantity of drugs, members of the YKAN, shortly after 11.00 before noon on Sunday, stopped a 53-year-old man, who was traveling by car in the area of Polemidia. A search followed, during which a travel suitcase containing four packages of cannabis with a total gross weight of approximately 13.5 kg was found in the luggage compartment of the vehicle.
The members of the Police proceeded to the arrest of the 53-year-old suspect, for flagrant offenses, while later yesterday, pursuant to court warrants, they proceeded to the arrest of a man and a woman aged 43 and 28 respectively, after evidence emerged against them. e suspects are being investigated for possession of drugs with intent to supply another person, possession of drugs, and conspiracy to commit a felony.
The YKAN (Limassol District Unit) is investigating the case.
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Authorities in Limassol are on high alert after shots were fired at a bank branch in the Kapsalos area.
In statements at the scene, the head of the ICF of Limassol, Lefteris Kyriakou, said that the Police were informed this morning by the manager of the bank, that when they came to work in the morning, they found damage to the glass screens of the bank.
Immediately, ICF members arrived at the scene and according to examinations, there was damage from a firearm. At the same time, searches were extended to nearby stores to obtain CCTV footage that appears to have recorded the perpetrator's movements. According to them, an unknown person at dawn using a firearm, fired at the bank.
As Mr. Kyriacou noted, the vehicle is moving from the opposite side of traffic and while it was moving, shots were fired towards the branch, while the number of shots was large. From the shooting, there was minor damage inside the bank to walls and offices.
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in-cyprus
A woman has been charged with negligence after her two year old was found wandering alone in the streets of the Yeroskipou municipality on Friday morning.
According to CID spokesperson Michalis Nikolaou, the 29 year old left her daughter with relatives and friends and departed to attend a prior engagement.
But the little girl at some point escaped their attention and was almost hit by a vehicle around nine in the morning before she drew the attention of a local who notified authorities and subsequently her parents were found.
The father was also unaware that the child was missing.
Police charged her with negligence and leaving a minor unattended and she was released to be called in at a later date.
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Filenews
A new operation to dismantle yet another migrant smuggling network was carried out by the police, in the context of which four persons were arrested, who appear to be acting within the same ring.
According to information, the operation was carried out on the basis of data evaluated within the framework of the Information Exchange Group, which was set up under the instructions of the Minister of Interior, consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Interior and competent police departments, with the aim of reviewing migration policy issues and preventing migratory flows by sea. The individuals arrested were of Syrian origin, allegedly acting as intermediaries or collaborators in a migrant smuggling network in Cyprus and other countries.
According to the information, at first sight it seems that they were operating by sea in the area of Famagusta, as in the area of Cape Greco, and were mainly trafficking their compatriots, i.e. people of Syrian origin.
When asked, the Minister of Interior confirmed the fact, saying that the investigative work by the Cyprus Police continues for the four arrested people, who appear to be part of a ring operating in An. Mediterranean sea.
He stressed that the dismantling of illegal immigrant networks is one of the main orientations of the Government to tackle illegal immigration. As Mr. Ioannou said, smuggling networks, taking advantage of human suffering, push migrants to dangerous journeys by inappropriate means, endangering their own lives.
It is recalled that recently another migrant smuggling network was dismantled with the arrest of 6 more people, who were brought to justice, while the arrest of 6 more people of the same ring is pending. The first circuit dismantled at the end of August is reportedly different from the one dismantled today. The first circuit seems to have had a wider range, and to have operated by sea both in the area of An. Mediterranean, as well as through Turkey.
However, migration data for the year 2023 have so far been positive compared to last year. Asylum applications have fallen to around 50%, while returns of third-country nationals to their countries of origin have increased significantly as a result of the measures and actions taken. Asylum applications from March – August 2022 were 11.961 people, while applications from March – August 2023 were 5.866 people.
CNA
