Filenews 4 December 2023 - by Angelos Nicolaou
Recently, after the re-establishment of the Anti-Poaching Squad, it slowly began to have the first results with its action, which concern not only the illegal trapping of migratory birds, either protected such as vinebirds or huntable such as cicaps, but also illegal hunting in prohibited areas.
Furthermore, through patrols in closed or other areas of all districts, drugs, illegal fuel trafficking from the occupied areas and illegal means of hunting (weapons, networks, electronic echomimetic devices) were detected. According to information provided by "F", an additional 12 pieces of information are currently being investigated, which concern offences relating to the protection and management of wild birds and game.
According to police data, revenues from poaching and trapping migratory birds exceed €11 million, annually.
Speaking to "F", the spokesman of the Police, Christos Andreou, said that the reconstitution of the platoon marks the intensification of the efforts made by the state to combat all forms of poaching and protect the flora and fauna of the place. The platoon is staffed with 10 members who work with the change system with particular emphasis on night and midnight hours.
As he explained, according to the current police provision, the main mission of Oulamos is to prevent and combat poaching and other violations related to the Law on the Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Game (Law 152(I)/2003) or other relevant legislation, as well as the cooperation and provision of all possible assistance to the Game & Fauna Service and other co-competent bodies on issues related to the implementation of this Legislation. "The members of the Platoon have competence and scope of action in all Districts of Cyprus, without this meaning that the powers and responsibilities of the Police Director of each District, as well as of the Head of the Game & Fauna Service, are affected for the exercise of their powers and duties in relation to the fight against the phenomenon of poaching", Added.
The Anti-Poaching Unit investigates complaints received from hunters through the Hunter's Line (1414), as well as more serious and substantiated complaints (even after sending relevant audiovisual material), which concern known and large trappers (mainly in the districts of Larnaka and Famagusta). It is noted that Oulamos receives complaints, either from individual citizens, or from organized groups, or from hunting associations, or from environmental organizations, regarding the illegal hunting of huntable species and the illegal trapping of migratory birds.
The Anti-Poaching Unit was re-established on 7/8/2023, following a decision of the Council of Ministers, which was taken during its meeting on 8/6/2023. This was preceded on 12/7/2023 by the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Game and Fauna Service of the Ministry of Interior and the Cyprus Police for the re-establishment of the Anti-Poaching Squad.
After the above decision, the Commander of M.M.A.D. moved / placed 10 members in the reconstituted Ulamos. It is noted that immediately after the reconstitution of Ulamu, its members attended at the Police Academy an accelerated training program on issues of competence and duties.
To date, the members of the Squad, within the framework of their duties, in 51 cases patrolled and performed static ambush duties in closed or other areas of all districts. They also carried out checks on 38 persons and 23 vehicles.
In addition, the members of the platoon filed a complaint by a hunter for the offence of chasing game in a prohibited area and carrying a double-barrelled shotgun (BEAM) also in a prohibited area. He was taken to the Police Station of Lania where the offender was issued an extrajudicial fine of € 3,000 and confiscated the BEAM. During the night checks of suspicious vehicles/persons, a small quantity of drugs was detected in the possession of a young person and he was taken to the offices of the Y.K.A.N Limassol for further investigation.
Coordinated operations to combat the phenomenon
On 15/10/2023, following a coordinated operation exclusively by members of the Oulamos in Maroni, Larnaka District, two wild bird trapping networks were detected on a fenced plot owned by a known poacher. The prohibited means of trapping wild birds were received by the members of the platoon and delivered to the Zygi Station where they made a relevant complaint. Subsequently, on 23/10/2023, an extrajudicial fine of €3,500 was issued in cooperation with an officer of the Game & Fauna Service.
Following the above, it is reported that on 17/10/23, members of Oulamos in the area of the community of Potamia intercepted a suspicious vehicle which after monitoring was found to be entering from the areas not controlled by the Republic. During the inspection, it was found that he was carrying motor fuel in a metal tank and canisters. Both the driver and the vehicle were taken to P. Chorio Station where officers of the Customs Department were called. According to the latter, a quantity of 1000 liters of oil and 100 liters of gasoline was detected. The driver of the vehicle was fined €5,000 and the fuel confiscated.
On 2/11/2023, members of Oulamos, within the framework of investigating information, pursuant to a judicial search warrant, searched a residence in Limassol without finding anything illegal.
On 5/11/2023, during checks in an area of the Mari community, members of the Oulamos reported a person hunting in a prohibited area, illegally possessing/transporting a firearm, illegally possessing/transporting explosives and without holding a renewed hunting license. Both the offender and the owner of the BEAM who accompanied him, were taken to the Zygi Station where both were interrogated and charged in writing.
In the meantime, from 2017 until today, the total fine imposed is close to €4,000,000 out of a total of 3,500 cases of violation of the law. In the last three years, 2021 – 527 cases were reported, 2022 – 453 and 2023 (to date) – 553.
87% of out-of-court cases are paid on time, 11% are not paid and have been or will be tried in court, while the remaining 2% are pending. It is important to mention that after the implementation of the legislation in 2017, where all offences are now regulated out of court, the penalties imposed by the courts, for cases where out-of-court fees are not paid, have doubled, which was one of the objectives of the amendment.
Along with the implementation of extrajudicial procedures, the following have been achieved:
• Reduction of poaching, which is confirmed by reports by NGOs that deal with and study the whole issue. Illegal trapping during the spring period has been eliminated.
• The publication of specific high extrajudicial fines acts as a deterrent.
• Saving valuable man-hours for judges, other court staff, police officers and gamekeepers.
• Increase the average sentences imposed by courts for poaching cases prosecuted.
• Strengthening public awareness that environmental crime is particularly serious and legislation addresses it severely.
• Satisfaction in the ranks of hunters for the fact that, for poaching offenses, very severe penalties are imposed in a very short time.
Specific cases with presumptions
10 wire loops were also located and received for destruction in an area in the district of Larnaka, since efforts to locate the person who installed them did not bring the desired result.
In one case, members of the Oulamos assisted the Nicosia OPE and the Game Service during the execution of a search warrant for houses and premises in the Nicosia district to no avail.
In three different cases in open spaces of communities in the Districts of Nicosia, Larnaka and Famagusta, 6 trapping networks, 5 sound generating devices, 5 car batteries, 2 radios, 10 loudspeakers were detected and received. 2 amplifiers, 5 USB and 80 meters cables. It is noted that attempts were made to identify the persons who installed the illegal means of predation to no avail. 22 trapped birds were also released.
