Pafos Live 15 October 2024
Police in Paphos have made two arrests in connection with an ongoing case of marriage of convenience aimed at ensuring legal residence in the republic for a citizen from Bangladesh.
Police also arrested a 19-year-old Romanian woman who claims to have married the 41-year-old Bangladeshi worker. Both admitted that it was a marriage of convenience when they went to the offices of YAM Pafos yesterday to submit their documents.
The marriage certificate submitted by a Romanian municipality was found to be forged, which they later admitted, implicating a 29-year-old compatriot of the "groom" who lives in Paphos. He has been searched for but not located. According to the 41-year-old's claim, his compatriot would provide him with all the documents for a fee.
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An arrest warrant was obtained against a Greek Cypriot following a complaint by a supermarket in Paphos that in recent months he had been shopping for products worth €2,000 by paying with non-existent gift vouchers.
This supermarket offers a gift voucher worth €10 with purchases in excess of a specific sum. This particular customer, who had secured such a coupon since May 2023, almost every week, was shopping for products worth ten euros, without paying due to an error presented by the hypermarket, with this customer, who, although he realized the error, obviously wanted to take advantage of it.
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Thirty-five kilos of cannabis were found and confiscated yesterday by the authorities at Larnaka airport.
Two people aged 19 and 25 were arrested in the case.
In a post on platform "X", the Police say that the large quantity of drugs was detected as part of an operation by YKAN with the customs authorities.
It is also noted that investigations to fully clarify the case are ongoing
Update - Filenews - According to initial information, these are two people of Greek origin, who arrived from Barcelona via Munich to Larnaka.
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Filenews
Large quantities of drugs, which he imported from abroad, were allegedly in the possession of the 47-year-old suspect, hiding them in a mountainous area of Mouttayiaka.
The information given to YKAN Limassol regarding the suspect's action was confirmed, as he, after his arrest, admitted that he was acting on behalf of another person and had already received a monetary reward of €800 for his services. In total, 3kg of cannabis and 1.5kg of cocaine were found and seized in his possession.
According to Filenews, the suspect had allegedly concealed a large quantity of drugs in a mountainous area of Mouttayiaka and according to the information that reached the YKAN, he gradually transported smaller quantities, which he traded, hiding them in his home. The same information referred to the construction of a crypt in the 47-year-old's home, however, after a search, this was not found.
Searches continued this morning in a steep mountainous area of Mouttayiaka, where a plastic container containing about half a kilogram of cocaine was found.
It should be noted that after the arrest of the couple, the 47-year-old and the 41-year-old were led to the spot where the former had previously been seen. In a subsequent search, a green food carrier bag was found in a bush containing nylon packaging, a kilogram of cannabis and a kilogram of cocaine.
The 47-year-old suspect, as previously reported by Filenews, took full responsibility, exonerating his wife of any involvement in the drug case. After his confession, investigators at YKAN Limassol released the 41-year-old without charge. The 47-year-old was brought before the Limassol District Court for a detention order. The Court granted the request and ordered his detention for eight days.
The case is expected to seek an order for access to the recorded content of the three mobile phones found in his possession and received as evidence. At the same time, tests will be carried out on the origin of the drugs found and their final destination.
The YKAN reached the 47-year-old's whereabouts after evaluating information and around 18:30 on Sunday afternoon, its members stopped a car driven by his 41-year-old wife on a Limassol street for inspection. The 47-year-old was also in the vehicle, while a search of the luggage compartment found and seized a quantity of cannabis with a total gross weight of 2 kg and 180 grams, as well as a quantity of cocaine with a total weight of 105 grams. They also found and confiscated the sum of €1,165 and three mobile phones.
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A 77-year-old woman experienced nightmarish moments last night in the Souni community of Limassol district, when unknown assailants broke into her home, immobilized her at gunpoint and robbed her.
According to information provided by Filenews, the incident happened around 22:00, when the two perpetrators, wearing face shields, broke into the complainant's residence. One of the attackers threatened the 77-year-old with beatings and pinned her down, demanding money.
The perpetrators managed to locate and extort the sum of €2,500 in various banknotes, as well as jewellery of the 77-year-old, such as a gold ring and a pair of earrings. In fact, one tried to forcibly remove the gold wedding ring she wore on her right hand, but was unsuccessful.
Before fleeing, the attackers also grabbed the cross the 77-year-old was wearing by her neck. After the robbery, the woman was taken to Limassol Hospital, where doctors found that she had abrasions on her neck and bruises on her arm.
The case is being investigated by the Episkopi Police Station. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage to trace the perpetrators.
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Cyprus Mail
Two people were arrested after a drugs raid carried out by police in the Ayios Nikolaos Sovereign Base Area (SBA), British forces announced on Tuesday.
The two, a 46-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman, were remanded in custody for one day.
During the raid, police seized 29g of class B drugs, two grams of class A drugs, and two fully bloomed cannabis plants. Additional items confiscated included mobile phones, CCTV footage, shotguns and cartridges.
The operation, which involved 65 officers, was led by Chief Inspector Fanos Christodoulou.
He called the raid a “highly successful and large-scale operation”, crediting excellent police intelligence for its success.
Specialist military assets, including four sniffer dogs and ammunition technical officers, were deployed during the raid.
Christodoulou also confirmed that the raid was coordinated with a separate Cyprus police operation nearby, during which 22 rifle rounds were seized, and another arrest was made.
The two people arrested in Ayios Nikolaos are scheduled to appear again in SBA Court in Dhekelia.
If found guilty, they face sentences ranging from eight years to life imprisonment for offences related to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
