Filenews 13 March 2024 - by Fanis Makrides
The exorbitant sum of €160 million over a four-year period was transported to Cyprus by travellers via Larnaka and Paphos, according to information reported by the chairman of the parliamentary committee on institutions, Demetris Demetriou.
Speaking during the closed-door meeting, he asked the representatives of the Department of Customs and Excise whether the above information is correct. In response to the question, one of the two officials said she was not in a position to know. Mr Demetriou came back with a new question: "Is it over €100 million?" The officer of the Department of Customs and Excise reportedly replied in the affirmative.
Moreover, in the session, which was closed for journalists after the speeches of MPs, there were reports leading to the reasonable conclusion that the competent prosecuting authorities in this case are not acting within the framework of a mechanism.
In other words, there was an inability to monitor and intervene in time to these phenomena that refer to the existence of money laundering rings.
It was mentioned, inter alia, that the Department of Customs and Excise had to transmit data on travellers carrying excessive amounts of cash every 15 days to the Anti-Cover-Up Unit (MOKAS), but there was also a case where this data was transmitted after three months.
However, the news published by "F" last Wednesday, in which we made reference to the consultation of the Police and the Department of Customs, in order for the latter to notify her immediately, whenever a traveller brings to Cyprus €100,000 or more in cash, was also confirmed.
