Filenews
A search of a fenced area in the province of Larnaca, owned by a 55-year-old man, was carried out today by members of the Police, where they were located and confiscated, among other things,
- Three wild bird trapping nets, one of which was set up
- Four loudspeakers
- Four audio production devices
- A dead wild bird
Members of the Game Service who were called to the scene released six wild birds, while an out-of-court fine is expected to be issued against the 55-year-old at a later stage.
The Zygi Police Station continues the examinations.
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The 47-year-old Israeli citizen, Alexei Karzhgor, was arrested under an international arrest warrant issued against him by Russia through Interpol, a police spokesman told KYPE, confirming a report on the subject of the Israeli newspaper "Yediot Achronot".
As reported to KYPE, the 47-year-old wanted man was arrested on Saturday at the port of Larnaca and on Monday he will appear before the Larnaca District Court in order to forward the process of his extradition to the Russian authorities.
The report said that Alexei Kardzgor was arrested for the execution of an international arrest warrant related to "an old case of hijacking a cargo ship in the Baltic Sea".
According to "Yediot Achronot", Kardzgor arrived in Cyprus by ship and was unaware that an international arrest warrant issued by Russia through Interpol was pending "for participation in the planning and execution of the hijacking of the Arctic Sea ship".
Karjgor had previously been arrested in connection with the case and was released on bail in 2009 but escaped.
Update - In Cyprus, the news of his arrest may not have been paid attention by the Cypriot authorities, but his case has international dimensions.
The reason for the Israeli citizen of Russian origin, Alexei Kratzgur, 47, who was arrested on Saturday at the port of Larnaca by the Cyprus Police on the basis of an international arrest warrant issued by Russia through Interpol.
This is because Kratzgur allegedly had a leading role in the hijacking of a ship 16 years ago, in a way that resembles an action movie. In fact, the case had triggered the development of nonsense about secret Russian weapons shipments or connections with intelligence services
We quote an excerpt from the report of the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth:
"Kratzgur was arrested in connection with an old case of hijacking a cargo ship in the Baltic Sea. Kratzgur arrived in Cyprus on a Mano Shipping ship, unaware that an international arrest warrant issued by Russia through Interpol was pending.
The Russians accuse Kratzgur of participating in the planning and execution of the Arctic Sea piracy. Kratzgur was arrested in this case in 2009 and released on bail, but later escaped and was declared wanted by Interpol.
The Russian prosecutor's office, which is leading the investigation, has long requested his extradition, and the arrest (by the Cypriot authorities) is expected to lead to a quick extradition process.
The Maltese-flagged cargo ship Arctic Sea departed the port of Jakobstad in Finland on 23 July 2009 with a cargo of timber. About 24 hours later, in the evening, the ship was attacked in the Baltic Sea by gunmen pretending to be police officers. The gunmen boarded the ship, savagely beat the 15 Russian crew members, tied them up and locked them in cabins, and took control of the ship.
The hacking sparked a lot of speculation, including allegations of a secret shipment of Russian weapons or links to intelligence services, but Russian authorities denied this and said it was a pirated act. The Russian Navy seized the ship on August 17, 2009, near the Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic Ocean.
The eight main pirates – mostly from Estonia and Latvia – were arrested and convicted of piracy and kidnapping in a Russian court in 2011. They were sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. They claimed that they were "mercenaries", with the aim of increasing the demand for maritime security services.
A parallel investigation in Latvia, published in 2009, revealed the involvement of Kratzgur, the owner of an advertising business in Riga, described at the time as a man who "loved sushi and computer games". He is accused of being involved in the planning and execution of the attack, including recruiting personnel and coordinating accounting from Latvia. If charged, he is expected to face charges of armed hacking, kidnapping and extortion.
Kratzgur's lawyer, Nir Yaslovich, said: "It is very puzzling how the Russian authorities remembered to act only now, after such a long and prolonged delay. From my experience with the Cypriot legal system, the delay itself and the above enigmatic behaviour are sufficient to consider release from detention."
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Methodically and decisively, the Police are intensifying the operations to combat the illegal trapping and trafficking of vine birds, during the autumn migration period.
In recent days, three well-organized operations have uncovered extensive poaching networks, inflicting heavy economic blows on the protagonists of the illicit trade. With continuous targeted operations, it strikes the hard core of illegal hunting of ampelopoulia where tens of thousands of euros, human lives and the very biodiversity of Cyprus are at stake.
On September 26, 2025, the Police conducted a major operation in the province of Larnaca, on the property of a 55-year-old man in Maroni. Seven set up trapping nets were found at the scene (three other nets were placed in bags), 63 dead vine birds, and 343 live birds that were released. Eight more loudspeakers, four sound imitation devices, and other equipment were seized. The out-of-court fee imposed by the Game and Fauna Service reaches €26,000.
Less than 10 days later, yesterday, a new operation in the same village revealed new activity, with three trapping networks, four loudspeakers and a dead bird, while six others were released. An out-of-court settlement of more than €6.000 is expected for the same 55-year-old.
On October 3, the Police proceeded with a two-phase operation, with a search of the house of a 41-year-old man in Dali, as well as a fenced area in Agios Theodoros. Five nets, 952 dead birds and 817 packaging containers were found in Dali.
In Agios Theodoros, 11 rigged nets, 297 birds (of which 149 dead and 147 alive), as well as two imitation devices, were confiscated. During the operation, a 42-year-old man with a hood was also arrested, while he was in possession of cannabis, a shotgun and 181 cartridges. At the same time, a 44-year-old man was stopped in the same place with cartridges and knives in his car.
According to information, an out-of-court order of €17,000 was imposed for this poacher for his residence in Dali and another out-of-court order of €13,000 is expected for the illegalities in Agios Theodoros, a total of more than €30,000.
The operations are carried out exclusively by the Police, with the Game Service being called afterwards for an evaluation of the evidence. Sources from the Police note that these are targeted actions, focusing on the largest and most dangerous poachers. Operations have increased in frequency and intensity, while additional raids are already planned at points-"squares" of mass trapping and trafficking of birds.
Meanwhile, the international environmental organization CABS (Committee Against the Slaughter of Birds) is closely monitoring developments, and welcomes the change in attitude of the Police, which until recently avoided being seriously involved in mass entrapment. The organization speaks of systematic inaction of the authorities for years, leaving the action of the rings unchecked. As CABS notes, only with consistency, transparency and zero tolerance can it be ensured that wildlife crime does not continue to thrive under the guise of tradition.
Terra Cypria: "It's not a custom – It's a crime against wildlife"
In an article-intervention, Koulla Michael, Executive Director of Terra Cypria, debunks the myth that the consumption of ampelopoulia is a "tradition". He speaks of an industrial, criminal activity, with huge illegal revenues, based on the black market and clientelistic relationships.
Terra Cypria stresses that this practice violates EU legislation, disrupts ecosystems and sustains organised crime. Despite the progress made, impunity remains the biggest problem.
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Cyprus Mail
A 43-year-old man from Latvia was arrested on Saturday at Larnaca airport before departing for London after customs agents found 131 cartons of 200 cigarettes each and 6kg and 950g of rolling tobacco in his luggage, the customs department announced on Monday.
The officers confiscated the tobacco, which was all duty-free.
On Sunday, the passenger was taken before the Larnaca district court, which issued a two-day remand order to facilitate investigations.
