Pafos Live 21 June 2025
During the two-day period 18-19 June 2025, the Customs Department handled the following cases concerning the possession, illegal transport and disposal of duty-free tobacco products:
1) On 18/6/2025, officers of the Customs Department proceeded to an inspection of a vehicle driven by a Greek Cypriot with another Greek Cypriot as a passenger at the crossing point of Zodia – Astromeriti, during their passage through the occupied areas to the free areas. During the inspection of the vehicle, 20 boxes of 200 cigarettes, 4 boxes of 200 heated cigarettes and 2 kg and 250 grams of smoke for a rolled cigarette were found and confiscated, which did not bear the marking for the harmfulness of smoking in Greek and Turkish, nor the security feature and the unique traceability code, were seized. indications that they were duty-free. The driver and passenger of the vehicle were arrested for flagrant offenses, while their vehicle was also confiscated as a means of transporting the illegal tobacco. They were later released, after their proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the offences was accepted with the payment of an amount of €2,100 as well as an additional €300 for the return of the vehicle.
2) On 18/6/2025, officers of the Customs Department at Larnaca Airport, after evaluating information, proceeded to check the luggage of two departing passengers with British citizenship, bound for the United Kingdom. In the 2 luggage of one passenger, 113 boxes of 200 cigarettes and 5.7 kg of roll-out cigarette tobacco were found, and in the 2 luggage of the second passenger, 92 boxes of 200 cigarettes and 16.75 kilos of roll-out cigarette tobacco were found. The tobacco products did not bear health labels in Greek and Turkish, an indication that they are duty-free. The two persons were arrested for flagrant offenses, while the luggage with their contents was confiscated. On the same day, they were taken to the Larnaca District Court which issued a decree of 2-day detention. They were later released, after their proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the offences was accepted with the payment of amounts of €8,770 and an additional €11,200 respectively.
3) On 18/6/2025, members of the Police informed officials of the Customs Department that during a check they carried out on a bus, they found a quantity of tobacco products. Specifically, 7 boxes of 200 cigarettes each and 7 boxes of heated cigarettes were found, which did not bear the marking for the harmfulness of smoking in Greek and Turkish, nor the security feature and the unique traceability code, indications that they were duty-free. The above tobacco products, after being counted, were confiscated by the officers of the Customs Department. The case was settled by an out-of-court settlement after the suspect's proposal for payment of an amount of €700 was accepted.
4) On 19/6/2025, members of the Nicosia OPE informed officials of the Customs Department, that in a search they carried out, in the house and vehicles of a Greek Cypriot in Nicosia, they found a large quantity of tobacco products as well as an amount of cash in Turkish Pounds. Specifically, 448 boxes of 200 cigarettes each, 93 boxes of heated cigarettes, 7.4 kg of smoke for a rolled cigarette and 90 pieces of cigars were found, which did not bear the marking for the harmfulness of smoking in Greek and Turkish, nor the security feature and the unique traceability code, indications that they were duty-free. The amount of money found amounts to 46,990 Turkish lira. 63 packs of pharmaceutical gel for erectile dysfunction were also found. The suspect, who has previously been employed by the Customs Department for similar offences, was arrested for flagrant offences and taken to detention centre for further investigation. The above products and the amount of money, after being counted, were confiscated by the officers of the Customs Department. The arrested man was brought today before the Nicosia District Court, which issued a decree for his 2-day detention. The case is being investigated by the Chief Customs.
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Filenews
A fierce chase took place on Friday night in the main streets of Limassol, with police officers firing warning shots.
Around 9.30 p.m. yesterday, while members of the Limassol Traffic Police were conducting traffic checks in an area of Limassol, they attempted to stop a vehicle without registration plates, with tinted windows, which was driving at a speed of 110 km/h instead of 50 km/h.
The driver of the vehicle in question failed to stop at the signal of the members of the Police, while he turned the car towards the police officer and continued his course at a dizzying speed, negligently and dangerously failing to stop at intersections, violating traffic signals.
During the attempt to stop the vehicle in question, warning shots were fired by the members of the Police, while at some point on the road, the vehicle in question collided with three vehicles, including the service vehicle. The driver continued his course, in the opposite direction of traffic, and then headed towards the Limassol – Paphos motorway.
Those involved in the road collision went to hospitals, where it was found that they suffered minor injuries and after receiving first aid, they were discharged.
Around 10.20p.m. the above vehicle was found on fire in an area of Limassol. The fire was extinguished by members of the Fire Department, while from the preliminary examinations that were carried out, it seems that it was maliciously set.
During the investigation of the case, testimony emerged against two persons aged 25 and 20, who were arrested on court warrants and detained, to facilitate the investigations.
The Limassol TAE and the Limassol Traffic Police continue the examinations.
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[update from a report yesterday]
The residents of the area in Agia Fyla experienced the absolute nightmare yesterday, from the successive explosions caused after a fire, which initially broke out in a vehicle parked in the ground floor parking lot of an apartment building, on Scarlat Street. Within minutes, the fire spread to four more luxury cars, which were parked next to each other and were completely destroyed.
According to the Police, the target of a criminal action was the vehicle of a Greek Cypriot businessman, a tenant of the apartment building. The unknown perpetrators put their plan into action shortly after 2:00 yesterday morning, placing an improvised incendiary-explosive device on the vehicle. At the first light of day, members of the Fire Brigade, a pyrotechnician and members of the Limassol TAE carried out on-site examinations to collect evidence from the scene. In the target vehicle, which is registered with a company and driven by the Greek Cypriot, traces of flammable material were found and it was found that a bottle with flammable material had been placed, wrapped in a cracker – Molotov cocktail.
The exams of the Limassol TAE continue at an intensive pace. From the very first moment, various closed circuits for monitoring the area have been received for study, while testimonies are received from various persons.
In statements from the scene, the Limassol Assistant Police Director and head of the TAE, Lefteris Kyriakou, said that "after the information given about a fire on the ground floor of the apartment building, the Fire Service and patrols of the Limassol ADE immediately arrived at the scene. The scene was blocked, while the apartment building was immediately evacuated."
It should be noted that the fire had also spread to the outdoor area, with the flames reaching up to the third floor of the apartment building. The fire was extinguished by the Fire Brigade, however, five vehicles were completely destroyed, while two more suffered serious damage. Significant damage was caused to the masonry of the apartment building, in an apartment on the first floor, while damage was also caused to the ground floor parking area, since the explosions and the high temperature, the metal doors of the warehouses were ejected from their position.
A resident of the apartment building, speaking to "F", said that he woke up to the smell of smoke. As he said, he had rented the apartment just 20 days ago, while his vehicle was completely destroyed by the fire. He added that his apartment, on the first floor, was severely damaged, while he managed to take a few personal belongings before leaving, as the fire spread very quickly.
From the explosions, the tenants jumped out of their beds in panic and left their apartments with their minor children, not knowing exactly what was happening. The testimony of another tenant is characteristic, who said that he initially assumed that Cyprus had become the target of an attack, due to the tense developments in the Middle East.
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The Police arrested a 27-year-old man yesterday, pursuant to a court arrest warrant, in the context of an investigation of a drug case.
Following investigations by the Police Department, a quantity of cannabis weighing half a kilo, a firearm and 92 full cartridges were found and confiscated on April 15, 2025, in Limassol.
For the same case, two more persons, aged 36 and 27, were arrested.
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The findings of the police investigators so far on the contracts of the Department of Forests with companies for the provision of services and the lease of aerial means of forest firefighting are causing a sensation.
Part of the witness material revealed today by "F" and which emerged after police examinations, presents the position of a specific officer of the Forestry Department as particularly burdened.
He participated in the competent body of the Department of Forests, which evaluated and gave a final recommendation for the award of tenders to specific companies either for the rental of aircraft or for the purchase of services from aircraft operators.
What emerges is that some contracts worth tens of millions ended up in the same companies. In fact, in two cases, the same official was interconnected with the legal entities that the committee evaluated public contracts and made the final recommendations for the award of tenders.
What the police examinations have revealed and is scandalous is that a first-degree relative of the officer in question allegedly participated in a company, which is connected to another corporate entity to which tenders were awarded.
More specifically, in recent years, three tenders for the lease of aircraft worth many million euros have been awarded to one company. This officer of the Department of Forests participated in the evaluation committee. Further investigations by the Police found that with the contractor who won the three tenders, another company cooperated, in which the mother of the suspected officer was an official.
Six contracts in the same
From the testimonies received by the Police officers who investigated the case, it appears that for a number of years, a large number of contracts for the purchase of services were assigned to the same company.
Specifically, following an investigation by the Police, data emerged showing that between the years 2018 and 2024, six tenders held for the purchase of pilot services were awarded to a specific corporate entity.
In these tenders, based on data obtained by the investigators, the same officer of the Department of Forests had a role.
From further examinations carried out, it emerges that the latter had a connection with the company in question. Specifically, the public servant allegedly used a vehicle belonging to the specific corporate entity for his movements.
All of the above emerged, according to our information, after the complaint made to the Minister of Agriculture, Maria Panagiotou. The complainant was another company, which informed the minister that an officer of the Department of Forestry had taken specific actions in order to award a tender to a legal entity. This is the entity that, as mentioned above, won the six contracts.
Eight persons – €30 million
For the time being, a total of eight persons are considered suspects, four natural and an equal number legal.
In particular, as far as the four people are concerned, the police investigations that are being carried out focus on three officers of the Forestry Department and a company manager.
The police examinations have progressed to a large extent, however, as we are informed, investigative testimonies against suspicious persons are pending.
Bribery, corruption, etc.
The Crime Detection Department of the Headquarters investigates against the above-mentioned offenses: (1) defamation of a public official, (2) extraction of remuneration from a public official, (3) bribery for showing favour from a public official, (4) abuse of power, (5) corruption and others. Some of the offences in case of conviction of a person carry a prison sentence of up to seven years. In other words, these are felonies. Of course, at the moment the investigative work has not been completed.
The starting point
The criminal investigation of the Police is being carried out on the basis of findings that emerged after an administrative investigation, which was conducted following the instructions of the Minister of Agriculture, Maria Panagiotou. The political head of the Forestry Department had become the recipient of a complaint and had initiated a procedure for it to be investigated. After the completion of the investigation of the Ministry of Agriculture (a relevant announcement was issued on 22/1/25) findings had emerged, which were forwarded to the Legal Service and from there to the Police.
Subsequently, the Police Department found possible criminal responsibilities of three officers. The latter, after a procedure, were placed on suspension until the completion of the police examinations, in order to deal with the risk of contamination of the investigative work.
Requests to open bank accounts
- The role of four companies, 30 offers, search warrants...
As "F" had revealed on April 3, the investigators of the TAE Headquarters have already proceeded with requests for assistance in order to open bank accounts of all persons, who had a direct or indirect relationship with contracts of the Department of Forests (from 2017 onwards) and companies for the lease of helicopters and aircraft that are able to carry out forest firefighting operations.
The investigators, as it can be easily concluded, have reasonable suspicions of kickbacks that left companies, which claimed contracts with the state and ended up in public officials.
These civil servants, who are under investigation without currently being charged, are alleged to have played such a role as to be a catalyst in the evaluation and awarding of tenders in favour of specific business entities.
Indicative of the amounts at stake in such cases, is a relatively recent contract for the purchase of services from two aerial firefighting helicopters over a period of three years, which exceeded €14.5 million. Of course, this contract has nothing to do with the investigations of the Police, which, as we noted, concern the previous 7-8 years.
The role of a total of four business entities has been put under the microscope of the Police. From this parameter, it is demonstrated that the members of the investigative team of the TAE Headquarters have expanded the investigations. The subject of the investigators' examination is more than 30 offers made for contracts with the state in the field of aerial firefighting.
As part of the investigative work of the prosecuting authorities, a number of search warrants have been executed. As part of them, documents and devices, such as computers undergoing forensic and other examinations, were received as evidence.
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The Police arrested a 23-year-old person yesterday, pursuant to a court arrest warrant, in the context of an investigation into a case of robbery, causing grievous bodily harm and possession and transportation of offensive instruments.
According to the data under investigation, on 02/04/2025, information was given to the Police that in an area of Limassol, a number of persons, who were in possession of bats, attacked and beat a 23-year-old.
The Limassol TAE continues its examinations.
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Two more arrests were made in the United Kingdom, according to authoritative information from Filenews, with the persons detained while allegedly directly related to the terrorism case under investigation in Cyprus. The investigations of the Cypriot authorities into the extremely serious case concerning terrorist activity and the arrest of an Azerbaijani as a suspect are in full progress and are being carried out in extreme secrecy. Secret services of foreign countries, as well as Europol and Interpol, are involved in the case, which demonstrates the international dimension and seriousness of the case.
According to information on our website, important evidence has been found in the suspect's apartment, which will be sent for forensic and other examinations. Specifically, precision photographs, notes, computers, three mobile phones and professional tripods with telephoto lenses were found.
At the same time, the nationality of the suspect, who presented himself as a British national, is also being thoroughly examined. However, it is being investigated whether this nationality is genuine. According to the same valid information, two more people were arrested in Britain as part of a coordinated operation with the authorities estimating that the suspect sent them the material he was recording in Cyprus. The suspect arrived in Cyprus declaring himself a British citizen and a tourist. Authorities are examining who he had contacts with, as well as his routes and movements during his stay on the island.
The information that led to the arrest of the suspect stated that he was in Cyprus from April 2025 until today, in order to collect information about the presence of a foreign military force, possibly preparing a terrorist attack. The suspect was brought on Saturday morning before the Limassol District Court, which ordered his detention for a period of eight days. The proceedings were conducted behind closed doors, due to the sensitive nature of the case.
According to the same information, on June 20, 2025, highly confidential and highly reliable information was received at the TAE Headquarters from a foreign collaborating service, according to which the suspect was in Cyprus and was gathering information about the presence of foreign military forces, aiming at a possible terrorist act.
According to the same information, the suspect is allegedly a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. From physical surveillance carried out since June 2025, by a collaborating service, it was found that the suspect lives in an apartment near the British bases in Zakaki, Limassol.
During the surveillance, the suspect was spotted moving almost daily on foot near the British Bases, holding a large camera with a magnifying glass almost daily, as well as three mobile phones. He allegedly took photos with both his phones and other electronic devices, repeatedly recording suspicious movements. At the same time, he was taking printed notes. In addition, he was spotted moving from Limassol to Paphos by bus and then approaching the "Andreas Papandreou" air base, where he was also recorded photographing facilities in a suspicious manner.
He is being investigated for offences related to terrorism, espionage, conspiracy to commit a felony and other related offences.
