Pafos Live 1 March 2024
Police in Paphos arrested a 32-year-old man yesterday to facilitate investigations into an ongoing case of burglary, theft and illegal possession of property.
According to Pafos Police Director Nikos Tsapis, following information obtained by the Police, a search was carried out late on Thursday night at the 32-year-old's premises, in the context of which property was allegedly found for which he did not give satisfactory explanations.
Subsequently, a complaining woman who had reported the burglary of her residence and the theft of various items from her, allegedly recognized part of her property found at the 32-year-old's premises and reported to the police that it belongs to her.
Investigations into the case continue by the Paphos Police.
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A coordinated operation to combat illegal employment carried out yesterday by members of the Aliens and Immigration Service, in cooperation with members of the Green Line Surveillance Subdirectorate and the Inspection Service of the Ministry of Labour, resulted in the arrest of 11 persons.
During the operation, which took place at a construction site in the Nicosia district, a total of 25 persons were checked, of which 11 were found to be working without permission by the Department of Labour and were arrested.
The 11 arrested were working on behalf of three different subcontractors, who were served by the Inspection Service of the Ministry of Labour with a notice of violation of undeclared work.
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A large quantity of narcotic plant-based substance was found yesterday in two travel suitcases, which remained unclaimed, at Larnaka airport.
Specifically, in the two luggage were found 42 kilos and 950 grams of plant matter called kathin, which is on the list of narcotic substances.
The two bags had arrived at Larnaka airport, from abroad, on February 25, 2024, without being collected by any person. Yesterday, during the process of returning them to their country of origin, the suitcases were searched by members of the Department of Customs, resulting in the detection of drugs.
Update from Filenews
Interpol's contribution will be requested by the Anti-Narcotics Agency after the discovery of two luggage with almost 43 kilos of plant matter called kathini or khat, which remained unclaimed for days at Larnaka airport.
This is the largest quantity of this drug ever detected in Cyprus. The discovery of the large amount of khat has caused a sensation, since it is a very rare type of drug, known internationally as natural cocaine.
In our country, as reported to philenews by police sources, it is only the second time it has been detected, with the previous case involving very small quantities. The same sources said that the two suitcases mysteriously arrived from a third non-EU country in Cyprus, after initial tests show that they arrived unaccompanied and have not been connected to a passenger. The tests are now focusing on determining whether the drugs were destined for the Cypriot market or whether Cyprus was a transit station. The two pieces of baggage had arrived at Larnaka airport on 25 February 2024, without being collected by any person.
Yesterday during the process of returning them to their country of origin, the suitcases were searched by members of the Customs Department, resulting in the detection of drugs. In the two bags, 42 kg and 950 grams of plant matter were found.
The drug Khat is a green plant, which is cultivated throughout East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula at an altitude of 1,500-2,000 meters.
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A total of eight cases of burglary and theft were allegedly admitted by a 29-year-old resident of Larnaca, who had been arrested as part of an investigation into forgery, circulation of a false document and attempt to obtain money by false representations.
The 29-year-old was arrested shortly after midnight today, during a coordinated operation carried out by members of the Larnaca ICF, pursuant to a court arrest warrant issued against him for an investigated case of theft of chequebooks from a premises in Larnaca last February.
In the suspect's possession, a folding knife, a pair of gloves and a visor were found and received as evidence.
Under questioning, the 29-year-old allegedly admitted to committing eight more cases of residential/building burglary and theft, committed in Larnaca between the dates 01/01/2024-28/02/2024.
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Pafos Press
On Thursday, the Police in Paphos filed 36 driver complaints after checking 145 vehicles. In one case, a small amount of narcotics was reportedly found in the driver's possession.
according to Paphos Police Director Nikos Tsappis, "a small amount of narcotics was found in the possession of a 26-year-old driver as part of an operation to prevent traffic collisions", carried out on Thursday by the Paphos Police, while a drug test to which he was subjected allegedly indicated that he was positive
Mr. Tsappis also mentioned that in the operation carried out on Thursday for the prevention of traffic collisions, a total of 145 vehicles were stopped and 36 complaints were made for traffic violations.
Finally, he pointed out that the coordinated operations of the Police to prevent traffic collisions will continue at a later stage.
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Filenews
The two 22-year-olds who were arrested yesterday afternoon in possession of about 7kg of cannabis are not cooperating with authorities. After being handcuffed, the two were taken to the offices of YKAN Limassol for questioning, but refused to cooperate and answer questions.
In the case, according to philenews, another person is wanted, who seems to own the apartment where the two suspects were located and where the drugs were hidden. From the examinations of the YKAN Limassol, it appears that the two young men had the role of transporter and storekeeper, with the investigations focusing both on the supplier of drugs and the recipients.
The two arrested persons are expected to be brought today at 11:00 am, before the Limassol District Court for a request for their detention. According to the Police, at around 5.30 yesterday afternoon, members of the Limassol YKAN stopped a vehicle driven by a 22-year-old man in an area of Limassol for inspection.
The 22-year-old had been seen leaving a building shortly before. In a subsequent search, six nylon packages containing cannabis weighing a total of six kilograms and approximately 219 grams were found inside the vehicle.
Subsequently, the members of the YKAN stopped for inspection a second person aged 22, who was seen leaving the same building as the previous suspect. In the possession of the 22-year-old, 12 packages of cannabis with a total weight of approximately 46 grams were found.
Subsequently, the apartment in which the persons in question were previously located was searched, where four packages of cannabis with a total weight of approximately 647 grams, two precision scales and a sealing device were found in the warehouse. At the same time, a search of a vehicle owned by one of the suspects found four nylon packages containing cannabis with a total weight of 198 grams.
All the items found were seized as evidence, while the two persons were arrested on judicial arrest warrants and detained to facilitate interrogations.
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With a scenario reminiscent of a Netflix movie, the four masked men of the gangster armed robbery committed on Wednesday night at a seaside property owned by a Russian, in a remote area of Agios Georgios Alamanos in Limassol, acted.
The robbery, unprecedented by Cypriot standards, put the Police on red alert, which from the first moment conducts investigations and examinations in order to identify the perpetrators. Various information and examinations raised suspicions against a specific person who, late yesterday afternoon, was called to give a statement to the ICF of Limassol. He is a Bulgarian, a person known to the authorities.
The modus operandi of the four masked men turns the investigations in a specific direction, referring to a criminal group of foreigners. At the same time, various questions are raised about the well-planned actions of the perpetrators, who seem to have known when the private party and poker tournament would be organized and to have been very well informed.
For the gangster robbery, an investigation team has been set up by the ICF of Limassol and the Criminal Investigation Service of the Headquarters. In the hands of the authorities there are testimonies that are being evaluated but also dozens of pieces of evidence that were found at the scene. It should be noted that the Chief of Police and the Assistant Chief were present at the Limassol Police Headquarters on Thursday morning, who gave instructions and guidelines to the investigation team.
The information of "F" states that poker tournaments were held at the Russian's premises, and this was known in various circles. The owner invited friends for private parties and gambling, but the latter invited other friends. In fact, tournaments were held every week and on specific days.
An important key to the case is the list of patrons who attended the premises, with the owner being called by the authorities to provide information. As "F" is aware, the Russian owner said that he did not know all the faces, only a few of his friends, who regularly attended the parties. It should be noted that among the regulars of the armed robbery was himself.
Greek Cypriot, one injured
Among the patrons of the premises was a Greek Cypriot who resisted the perpetrators and as a result received several blows to the head. Another person of Georgian origin is the second injured, while Russian businessmen were among those present.
What was experienced by the 30 patrons of the premises who gathered to play poker and have fun, will remain unforgettable. The attackers, after entering the area, holding a pistol and short barrels, forced the patrons, most of whom were Russians, to fall to the ground, then tied their hands with plastic cables and then robbed them, taking watches, gold, money, mobile phones and vehicle keys. The prey of the perpetrators is expected to be much larger. Dozens of documents were received from the premises and will be sent for scientific and other examinations.
Speaking at the scene of the armed robbery, Limassol Police Director Andreas Angelides said that authorities attach particular importance to securing the details of about 30 attendees for statements. While one of the main questions of the police and investigators is whether the perpetrators knew and what actions they had taken before and how they had acted to be in this area.
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A man was placed in six-day detention following a complaint made yesterday by underage girls in Nicosia.
According to police, the man made obscene gestures against three underage girls in the area of Aglantzia.
After police investigations, the man was located and after being recognized by the minors, he was arrested.
Today he was brought before the Nicosia District Court which issued a detention order for six days.
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in-cyprus
On 28 February, 14 individuals believed to have orchestrated a massive €195 million VAT fraud, spanning across 17 countries, were arrested.
The arrests are the result of an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Munich and Cologne (Germany) with Europol’s support.
Among the arrested are some of the most high-profile criminal actors, who have been on Europol’s radar in recent years, in the area of VAT fraud.
Over 180 searches were carried out simultaneously in Albania, Austria, Cyprus, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Over 680 tax and police investigators supported the investigative measures.
During the searches, law enforcement seized vast quantities of smartphones, worth more than €15.3 million, as well as a yacht, worth €3 million, and €1.2 million in cash and cryptocurrency.
Several cars were seized, including a Rolls Royce, a BMW and a Range Rover. Jewellery, luxury watches and 2.5 kilograms of gold were also found in the suspects’ residences.
The investigation revealed that the suspected organisers of the VAT fraud scheme created a complex criminal ecosystem, which allowed them to defraud up to €195 million through several criminal schemes involving the sale of small electronic devices, such as smartphones.
It is understood that the suspects used fraudulent chains of missing traders, which would vanish without fulfilling their tax obligations.
In 2020, the same organisers of these VAT fraud schemes are believed to have entered the market for protective face masks.
The company managed by the suspects is understood to have bought them from a missing trader, and channelled them through several buffer companies to disguise their final destination.
On paper, their company was based in Hong Kong, but the face masks were actually in a warehouse in Germany, and remained there until the German Federal Ministry of Health purchased them from the company ostensibly based in Hong Kong.
According to the investigation, neither the company at the beginning of the supply chain, nor the Hong Kong-based company, reimbursed the VAT they had received upon the sale of the face masks to the Ministry.
The arrests are the result of years of special investigative measures carried out by several German Tax Investigation Offices in Berlin, Bielefeld, Cottbus, Münster and Nuremberg.
The case was opened at Eurojust in 2021 at the request of the German European delegated prosecutor. Seven coordination meetings were hosted by the Agency to facilitate judicial cooperation between the EPPO and national authorities involved in the case.
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The investigations of the ICF of Limassol are in full swing in relation to the new robbery against a woman today in the coastal area of Germasogeia, of the sum of €420,000.
The young woman arrived in Cyprus two hours before the robbery from Larnaka airport. In fact, as she claimed to the police, she declared the amount of money she brought with her during her customs control.
Then, she arrived by taxi in Limassol and specifically at seaside restaurants, to have coffee and then to buy an apartment in the area of Germasogeia. However, it seems that she was caught up by the two perpetrators who were riding a large displacement motorcycle.
The woman while walking, the passenger of her motorcycle grabbed forcefully the bag containing the amount of €420,000 and then disappeared.
Members of the ICF of Limassol are on site for examinations, while closed circuit surveillance systems in the area are expected to be searched.
