Filenews 28 November 2024
The Larnaca Permanent Assize Court imposed a 12-year prison sentence on a 32-year-old man who was found guilty in a case of illegal importation and possession of drugs.
The 32-year-old had been arrested by members of the YKAN, in September 2023, at Larnaka airport, after a quantity of methamphetamine was found in his luggage.
Specifically, during the check, carried out by a customs officer, in the luggage of the 32-year-old, after his arrival in Cyprus, a quantity of methamphetamine was found and seized, with a total gross weight of 1 kg and 260 grams. The drugs were in nine nylon packages, which were carefully hidden inside three wooden trays.
The investigation of the case was undertaken by the YKAN (Larnaka District Unit).
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Pafos Press 28 November
A large-scale coordinated operation in the city of Paphos and in the suburbs with the aim of preventing and solving crime, preventing road traffic collisions, as well as to consolidate a climate of peace and security for citizens, was carried out by the Police yesterday Thursday. As part of the operation, among other things, 62 vehicle stops, 22 traffic complaints, one arrest for drugs and the seizure of 14 computers were made.
According to the Assistant Police Director of Paphos Operations, Michalis Nikolaou, in the coordinated operation that took place on Thursday night from 18:30 until 04:00 on Friday, on-duty police officers and members of the Police, who were called overtime, led by the Police, took part Director of Paphos Cleitos Erotokritos. During the operation, Mr. Nikolaou, there were 62 vehicle stops with several investigations and 22 traffic complaints.
He further added that in one case around 19:50 in Chloraka, in a car that had been stopped and was being driven by an 18-year-old, a quantity of cannabis weighing 28 grams was found as well as a precision scale. The 18-year-old was then taken to YCAN (Klimakio Pafos) for further investigation and is in custody.
Also at 00:30 in the Tombs of the Kings area, a vehicle driven by a 27-year-old man was stopped in his possession and found to be in possession of a noxious gas launcher, the possession of which is prohibited. The 27-year-old was arrested and is in custody.
Besides these, Mr. Nikolaou reported that investigations were carried out in two properties to combat noise pollution on Agios Antoniou Street. In one case, where the owner is a 47-year-old, two loudspeakers and a CD player were taken as evidence, while in the other case, two loudspeakers and a CD player were taken from a premises with a 33-year-old manager. The two premises did not have a license to broadcast music.
Finally, for the purpose of combating electronic gambling, yesterday members of the Paphos Crime Prevention Ulam, by virtue of a judicial search warrant, searched a property in Paphos belonging to a 60-year-old man, where 14 computer towers were located and seized, on the suspicion that they have been converted into electronic game machines, such as slot machines and that they have installed unauthorized copies of operating or software programs in violation of the Cir Intellectual Property Law.
The targeted operations that started a month ago will continue at regular intervals, concluded Mr. Nikolaou.
Source: KYPE
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Filenews
With a sentence of 13 years after admitting to serious charges, he brought down the curtain on another drug case, which had been brought for trial before the Permanent Assize Court of Limassol.
The 35-year-old defendant was given several sentences today, the longest being 13 years on charges of possession of drugs with intent to supply nearly 7kg of cocaine.
Specifically, the 35-year-old defendant admitted that on October 13, 2023, he was in possession of cocaine weighing 6kg and 984g, as well as cannabis weighing 850g. He admitted possession of the drugs with a view to supplying them to other persons, as well as illegally supplying other persons with 720 grams. Cocaine.
For the same case, his co-defendant was his best man, since they had been caught red-handed separating and packaging cocaine.
The co-defendant had previously admitted and received sentences, the longest being 12 years, on charges of possession of cocaine weighing 6kg and 984g with intent to supply to other persons.
In today's ruling, the Limassol Assize Court notes that it took into account the role played by the defendant in the commission of the offences, as reported by his lawyer, Alexandros Clerides, namely that he received drugs from others and transported them to his former co-defendant and best man, with a view to storing them.
"Although it appears that the defendant was acting on behalf of others by transporting the drugs, his role in the drug trafficking chain was significant," the ruling said. Furthermore, the court points out that the defendant was acting in exchange for a smaller quantity of cocaine, which he then supplied to other persons.
"This is an aggravating factor, since through his actions he himself proceeded to the direct dissemination of the drug to users." In the sentencing, the Court emphasises, inter alia, that the defendant's contribution to the spread of drugs and the contamination of society was substantial and significant.
Apart from the fact that he transported the drugs in question to the premises of his former co-defendant and best man, he was also involved in the processing, separation and packaging of part of the cocaine found, on the basis of a relevant organization that existed.
According to the facts of the case, following a coordinated operation by YKAN Limassol on 13/10/2023, the two defendants were caught red-handed in an open area, adjacent to the residence of the 34-year-old (2nd defendant) in Moutagiaka, engaged in the separation and packaging of cocaine.
The two were caught red-handed kneeling on the ground and distributing the cocaine in several doses into bags so that it could be ready for sale. In a subsequent search, 7kg of cocaine was found buried, as well as cannabis weighing about one kg.
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Police in Pachna arrested a 41-year-old man for burglaries and thefts, while in his house they found stolen computers and various items including an air gun.
Specifically, according to the Police, on Thursday 28/11/2024, following information received from members of the Pachna Police Station and referring to the recent burglaries and thefts committed between 23-25/11/2024 in the countryside, in a coordinated operation of the Police Stations of Pachna, Pissouri and members of the Limassol OPE, they proceeded to monitor and then search the house of a 41-year-old man in a village in western Limassol.
During the search, a large number of power tools, computers, marine equipment, tree mowers, an air gun and various other items were found in the house and received as evidence.
The 41-year-old was arrested for illegal possession of property and, subsequently, from the examinations carried out and based on the testimonies obtained against him, a judicial arrest warrant was obtained and he was rearrested for two cases of burglary and theft committed on 23-25/11/2024 in the village of Pachna in the Limassol district.
The Pachna and Pissouri Police Stations continue their investigations and examinations.
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A 30-year-old and a 56-year-old man from Larnaca are being sent to prison for offences of extorting money by false representations, theft, threatening and money laundering.
The Assize Court, which met in Larnaka, sentenced a 30-year-old man, from Larnaka, to 7 years in prison and a 56-year-old man, also from Larnaka, to 2.5 years' imprisonment, in relation to the above offences. The court also issued a confiscation order for two vehicles, with a total value of €70,000.
The case arose following a complaint made to the Police on 9/7/2022 by a company representative, for embezzlement of €511.890 for the years 2020-2022 by an employee of the company.
As part of the investigation of the case, it emerged that the 30-year-old with the help of the 56-year-old, with false representations, extorted money from the employee of the company either through threats or other promises, to collect money from debtors of the complaining company.
After a thorough financial investigation, it emerged that the convicts appropriated large sums of money, which, among other things, were used to purchase the vehicles for which a confiscation order was issued.
The convicts had been arrested as suspects on 22/7/2022 and had been detained until 29/7/2022 and upon registration of the case in the assize court, a hearing followed from which they were found guilty and imposed the aforementioned sentences.
The investigation of the case was undertaken by the ICF of Larnaka.
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Cyprus Mail
Three individuals suspected of involvement in a large drug trafficking ring appeared before the Limassol court on Friday for a re-remand hearing. The court granted a new seven-day remand to allow police to gather additional evidence, including statements, phone records, and CCTV footage. The suspects’ lawyers did not object to the extension.
The suspects – a 33-year-old man, a 50-year-old man, and a 32-year-old woman – were arrested last Friday during a police operation targeting the younger man. Police reported that the arrests occurred in the car park of a beach hotel in Ayios Tychonas during what appeared to be a drug deal.
Police had been watching the 33-year-old after the arrest of his brother two months earlier in Nicosia, where police reportedly seized 22 kilogrammes of cannabis. Acting on new information that the 33-year-old was planning to transport drugs to the 50-year-old in Limassol, officers placed him under surveillance.
According to police, the younger man was seen outside his residence in Paliometocho loading a suitcase into his car. He later met with the older man and the 32-year-old woman, reportedly the employee of the older suspect, at a hotel in Limassol. The trio then proceeded to the car park of a beach hotel, where the 33-year-old transferred the suitcase into a vehicle driven by the woman. The older man followed on a motorcycle.
After the exchange, police intercepted the suspects. During a search of the woman’s car, officers discovered a suitcase containing five packages of cocaine weighing nearly 5.8 kilogrammes and five packages of cannabis weighing 5.6 kilogrammes.
The 50-year-old was found in possession of two mobile phones and €1,845 in cash, while the 33-year-old had two phones and €225 in cash.
A subsequent search of the younger man’s residence in Nicosia uncovered seven packages of cannabis weighing 7 kilogrammes. At a second property, officers reportedly found five smaller bags of cannabis weighing 140 grammes. Meanwhile, a search of the woman’s home yielded 13 grammes of cannabis. She claimed she was at the hotel car park only because her employer instructed her to pick up an item for him.
The three suspects are facing charges of conspiracy to commit a felony, possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics for the purpose of supply to a third party, and money laundering.
