Filenews 6 February 2025
He had 274 pills and 21 gels of stimulants, as well as 3 packages of pesticides weighing a total of 300 grams while trying to cross from the occupied to the free areas.
Officers of the Department of Customs and Excise proceeded on 4 February 2025 to check a vehicle driven by a Greek Cypriot at the crossing point Astromeritis – Zodia, upon his return from the occupied areas to the free areas.
During the inspection, several packages of medicines containing a total of 274 pills and 21 gels of stimulants were found and seized, as well as 3 packages of pesticides with a total weight of 300 grams. The movement of these products is prohibited under the Green Line Regulations.
The person involved abandoned the seized products for destruction, while his vehicle was confiscated as a means of transporting the prohibited substances. The case was settled through an out-of-court settlement, with the payment of an amount of €1,300, while the vehicle was returned to its owner for an additional amount of €200. On the occasion of this seizure, the Department of Customs and Excise advises the public to avoid the supply of pharmaceutical substances or pesticides from the occupied areas, since, in addition to the prohibitions set by the Green Line Regulations, there is a serious possibility that they may endanger their health from questionable quality preparations that require a doctor's prescription as well as causing damage to agricultural crops and the environment in general by substances that have been circulated banned in the European Union.
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In the last 10 days, the Department of Customs and Excise has seized significant quantities of tobacco products. One case concerns a search of a warehouse located inside a nursery. See in detail:
On 27/1/2025, following an evaluation of information, officers of the Department of Customs and Excise proceeded to a search of a warehouse located within a nursery in Engomi.
During the search in the presence of the owner of the warehouse, 6 boxes of 200 cigarettes each, 58 boxes of heated cigarettes, 5 kg and 700 grams of roll-your-own tobacco and 250 grams of hookah tobacco were found and confiscated, which did not bear the label for the harmful of smoking in Greek and Turkish, nor the security feature and the unique traceability code, indications that they were duty-free. The owner of the warehouse was arrested for flagrant offences and later released, after paying the sum of €5,000 for an out-of-court settlement of the offences.
On 3/2/2025, in cooperation with the Nicosia OPE and after evaluating relevant information, officers of the Department of Customs and Excise conducted a search in a warehouse of an apartment building in Strovolos, in the presence of its 49-year-old tenant.
During the search of the warehouse, 340 boxes of 200 cigarettes each, 44 boxes of heated cigarettes and 7 kilos and 900 grams of roll-your-own tobacco were found and confiscated, which did not bear the label for the harmful of smoking in Greek and Turkish, nor the security feature and the unique traceability code. indications that they were duty-free. The suspect was arrested for flagrant offences. A subsequent search of the suspect's vehicle found and seized an additional 74 boxes of 200 cigarettes each, 86 boxes of heated cigarettes and 1kg and 750 grams of roll-your-own tobacco. The vehicle was seized as a means of transporting the illegal tobacco products. With the written consent of the suspect, his home was also searched, where another 4 kg and 500 grams of roll-your-own tobacco were located and confiscated. The suspect was later released after proposing to pay €39,000 for the out-of-court settlement of the offences and €1,000 for the return of the vehicle.
On the same day, the house of the 54-year-old owner of the warehouse, in the same apartment building, was searched, where 22 boxes of 200 cigarettes each, 1 box of heated cigarettes and 3 kilos and 300 grams of roll-your-own tobacco were found and confiscated, which were not labeled as harmful to smoking in Greek and Turkish. But neither did the security feature and unique traceability code, indications that they were duty-free. The second suspect was also arrested for flagrant offences, while he was later released on payment of €4,000 for the out-of-court settlement of the offences.
On 4/2/2025, following an evaluation of information, officers of the Department of Customs and Excise searched a parked vehicle in a village south of Nicosia. During the search of the vehicle of the 68-year-old Greek Cypriot, who was previously employed by the Department of Customs, a total of 700 boxes of 200 cigarettes each, 101 boxes of heated cigarettes and 14 kg and 250 grams of roll-your-own tobacco were found and confiscated, which were not labelled as harmful to smoking in Greek and Turkish. But neither did the security feature and unique traceability code, indications that they were duty-free. The vehicle was confiscated as a means of transporting tobacco products and the driver was arrested for committing flagrant offences. He was later released, after his proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the offences and the return of the vehicle was accepted.
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He had been wanted since October 2023 for commenting on a social media post with racist and threatening content against Greek Cypriots, but was handcuffed and brought before the Limassol Court. This is a 32-year-old foreigner from Cameroon, who was arrested yesterday and today (5/2) was brought before the Limassol Court, which approved his detention for a period of two days.
The Cameroonian is facing offences involving incitement to commit a felony and offences falling under the Anti-Certain Forms and Expressions of Racism Act.
The controversial comment had been made, according to Filenews, under a post on social media on the occasion of the incidents that occurred in Molos in September 2023, during the protest against immigration. Then, within minutes, mobs began indiscriminate attacks against citizens and foreigners, while the coastal front and the city center were turned into a battlefield with damage to foreigners' premises.
The 32-year-old suspect had written a comment with threatening content, according to the evidence under investigation, and racially attacked Greek Cypriots. The controversial comment had provoked strong reactions, with authorities investigating the incident and identifying its creator and then requesting a judicial arrest warrant against him.
It should be noted that the 32-year-old is a person who remains in the Republic of Cyprus following an application for political asylum, a request which was however rejected, but an appeal is pending at the Administrative Court, which makes him legal in the country until its examination. The same information says that authorities are also investigating the possibility that the person belongs to the Nigerian organization, Boko Haram (an offshoot of al-Qaeda), but so far no testimony has emerged.
However, the decision of the Administrative Court in relation to the appeal is awaited with particular interest. It is unknown whether after the expiration of the two-day detention order, where the case is expected to be registered, the 32-year-old will remain free in the Republic.
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Police arrested a 32-year-old man yesterday, as part of an investigation into the riot and illegal assembly committed on January 28, outside the stadium where the handball match between the teams APOLLON and OMONIA 29M was taking place, in Limassol.
The 32-year-old was arrested under a court warrant, which was issued after evidence emerged during the investigation of the case. For the same case, four other people were arrested in the previous days. Another 32-year-old man, two 24-year-old men and a 22-year-old man were arrested.
Ten other people have been issued with judicial arrest warrants, also following evidence that emerged during the investigation of the case. The ten persons are wanted.
The ICF Limassol continues the examinations.
The incidents took place on the evening of January 28, in the area of the indoor stadium of APOLLON, in Limassol, during the handball match between the teams of APOLLON and OMONIA 29M. Specifically, at around 9.25pm, after evaluating relevant information, anti-riot police squads intercepted a group of about 100 OMONIA 29M fans, wearing hoods and holding clubs and offensive instruments, were heading towards the stadium.
In order to stop the above fans, tear gas was used by the Police, while objects thrown at the police officers slightly injured one policeman.
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The Larnaca Permanent Assize Court imposed an 8-year prison sentence on a 47-year-old man who confessed his involvement in one of the largest weapons cases investigated in recent years. The weapon was found last May in a grave in Oroklini and the accused is also a 35-year-old man, who, however, does not plead guilty. For this reason, the hearing before the Assize Court continues for the second defendant.
The 47-year-old, who was sentenced today, admitted at the previous hearing that he rushed to collect the weapon from a grave in the cemetery, saying it was not his. The court found him guilty of possession of firearms and explosives.
The weapon was found following a police operation conducted on May 20, 2024 at the cemetery. The 47-year-old was arrested at the cemetery carrying a bag containing a shotgun, 500 bullets in 10 packs of 50 and a pistol. Military weaponry such as an anti-tank launcher with three propellant projectiles, a number of rounds of ammunition, improvised explosive devices, one of which was connected to a mobile phone and ready for use, and a pistol with a silencer were also found in the grave.
It is recalled that last June a 42-year-old man was arrested for the case of weapons for the murder of Thanasis Kalogeropoulos, committed in October 2023 in Limassol. Genetic material of the suspect, according to police, has been found in the weapon after scientific tests.
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Cyprus Mail
Police have identified a suspect who is now wanted in connection with a death threat made against President Nikos Christodoulides, the authority said on Wednesday in a post on social media.
The threats appear to be connected to the trial of Turkish-Jewish land developer Simon Aykut, arrested in early June and charged with the usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the north.
Aykut’s family has refuted allegations that he had any involvement in the death threats and a statement, carried by media in the north, spoke of his deteriorating health in prison.
“From the firt moment the president received the threatening message, a coordinated investigation was launched and as a result, testimony against a specific person was secured,” the police said without naming them.
Police secured an arrest warrant against the suspect which was issued by the court on Wednesday, and the individual is wanted for the investigated case of issuing threats, conspiracy to commit a felony, and interference with judicial proceedings.
Earlier it had been reported that threats sent to Christodoulides via a social media platform he used, may have originated from the north, as an internet provider in that area was used, ruling out the possibility that the message was sent from an IP address in territory controlled by the Republic or elsewhere.
Media in the north carried the family’s written statement, which referred to Aykut’s deteriorating health in prison and said holding Aykut was a blow to democracy and justice in Cyprus.
According to Diyalog, the family said the whole issue was “a political manoeuvre on behalf of the institutions of the Republic of Cyprus to conceal Aykut’s health problems.”
Yeni Bakış said Aykut’s family demanded his immediate release.
It also said the family found inconsistencies in statements regarding the phone found in Aykut’s possession, as it was initially said to have been found in a corridor and later on it was reported to have never been found.
Aykut’s lawyer Maria Neophytou told Star Kıbrıs that her client had never threatened Christodoulides and echoed reports regarding a health coverup.
She said Aykut’s health reports, ordered by the Supreme Court, stated he had been diagnosed with cancer, which indicated the need for his immediate release.
The president confirmed having received a threat on Saturday without giving further details. The message appears to have been sent on Friday morning.
The president expressed his complete faith in the authorities to handle the matter.
