Filenews 26 January 2026
The five Greek Cypriots aged 42, 22, 31, 29 and 29, who were arrested last Thursday as part of a major operation by ADE Larnaca for organized crime, were placed in eight-day detention. The Larnaca District Court had reserved its decision for today regarding the Police's request for the issuance of detention orders, since during Friday's process some of the suspects, through their lawyers, objected to their detention.
Announcing its decision, the court said that there is a reasonable suspicion of committing the offenses and a reasonable suspicion of the involvement of the five suspects in the case. The suspects face the serious offenses of participation in a criminal organization, participation and acceptance of the commission of crimes, conspiracy to commit a felony, demand of property with threats for the purpose of theft, extortion, as well as money laundering.
The alleged action of the criminal network began to unfold after a check on the mobile phones of a 22-year-old Contracted Soldier of the National Guard, who is on trial for the attempted murder on July 31 against a 47-year-old businessman, who is also in custody for interfering in a judicial process, in connection with the case of shooting in the center of Larnaca on Saturday, January 17. The videos found on the mobile phones depict various incidents from 2023-2025, in which SYOP allegedly displayed large sums of money and hid items, which are believed to be quantities of drugs. The 42-year-old is said to be the head of the criminal group, with the network including, according to the Police, SYOP, his 29-year-old brother (the 42-year-old), a 31-year-old and another 29-year-old.
According to the information of the Police, as it was told in court, the 42-year-old belongs to a criminal organization which operates in Larnaca and has control over the trafficking of large quantities of drugs. The drugs were allegedly delivered by the 22-year-old SYOP, with the 42-year-old allegedly being the recipient of the proceeds. In addition, the 42-year-old is alleged to be the head of a criminal organization, which is active in Larnaca to provide protection to nightclubs. In one of the videos that was found on the defendant's mobile phone, in fact, he appears to be depicted showing money from the collection of a specific nightclub in the Mackenzie area. The court also reported that financial checks were carried out on the suspects and it was found that the earnings they declared were not in line with their assets. It has also been stated that "all of the above is confirmed by the latest events that took place in the city of Larnaca, where a warring criminal organization, members of which are under arrest for other offenses, are trying to prevail in the city by taking control of the provision of protection to the nightclubs operating in the city".
The investigations of the Larnaca Police Department continue intensively into the case and nightclub owners are expected to be called for testimonies. Under the microscope are, among other things, the mobile phones of the suspects, bulletproof vests as well as two cars allegedly involved in the offenses under investigation.
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The Police continued its targeted preventive operations in all provinces last night, with an enhanced presence in key points of urban areas and the aim of preventing serious criminal acts, protecting citizens and ensuring public order.
As part of these operations, members of the Police located and arrested three persons. In Nicosia, two persons were arrested, a 28-year-old man for the self-inflicted offenses of assault on a police officer, drunkenness and causing concern, as well as a second person for illegal stay in Cyprus. In Larnaca, a 34-year-old man was arrested for the spontaneous offenses of carrying a knife and illegal possession of property.
During the night, more than 370 vehicles were stopped for inspection, while more than 470 persons in them were checked. At the same time, 32 inspections of premises were carried out, with the aim of preventing and suppressing delinquent behaviours. During the inspections of the premises, two complaints emerged for violations regarding their operating licenses.
From the traffic checks carried out, 168 complaints related to various traffic violations emerged, including five for driving under the influence of alcohol. At the same time, as part of the investigation of traffic offenses, seven vehicles were detained.
These operations are part of a broad, continuous and strengthened preventive plan of the Police, with an increased police presence, targeted controls and immediate operational action in all provinces, with the aim of preventing crime and strengthening the sense of security of citizens.
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A car showroom, owned by a 37-year-old Romanian, located in the center of Limassol, was the target of arson in the early hours of Sunday. The perpetrator, after breaking the glass window of the premises, doused the interior with flammable material and set fire, causing serious damage.
According to the Police, the fire broke out around 4:15 in the morning in an indoor car showroom. The Fire Service was called to the scene, which proceeded to extinguish the fire.
According to the head of the Limassol Police Department, Costas Michael, the preliminary examinations revealed that the fire was set maliciously using flammable material. It seems that an unknown perpetrator broke the glass window of the store, doused the interior with flammable material and then set fire.
Two luxury cars worth €120.000 and €60.000 respectively were completely destroyed by the fire, while five other vehicles that were in the same area were not damaged. Damage was also caused to the property, the amount of which has not yet been estimated.
The TAE Limassol continues the examinations and evaluates witness material in order to investigate and solve the case.
According to information from Filenews, the 37-year-old owner of the store, in his testimony, stated that he does not suspect any person and has no differences with anyone.
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A new large-scale police control operation to locate third-country nationals, who are illegally residing in Cyprus, was carried out today by the Police.
During today's control operation, the members of the Police proceeded to arrest 21 persons, third-country nationals, who, as it has been established, remained illegally on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus. The Police is proceeding with the procedures for their immediate repatriation, always in cooperation with other competent authorities.
Today's operation was carried out in the province of Limassol, with the participation of members of the Aliens and Immigration Service – YAM, as well as members of the Sub-Directorate of Green Line Surveillance and Dealing with Migration Flows. It started at 5.00am and ended around 1.00pm on Sunday.
The Police's efforts to locate and repatriate persons residing illegally on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus continue daily.
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The Police started an ex officio investigation yesterday, Sunday, in relation to information that has been circulating on the internet in recent days and concerns an alleged incident of beating of the wife of the mayor of Paphos, Phaedon Phedonos.
Speaking to the state channel, the representative of the Press Office of the Police Headquarters, Christodoulos Konsolos, "these days what we see is circulating on the internet. It falls within the sphere of personal data. The whole situation has more to do with domestic violence issues. There are persons who are accused of various allegations. The Police have launched an ex officio investigation and all this will be investigated and when evidence emerges that will partially clarify the situation, we will see and announce the results."
It is noted that in recent days, medical certificates from a hospital have been posted on social media, which are expected to be examined and checked by the authorities as part of the ongoing investigation.
"Let political games stay away from my family"
Meanwhile, in a public intervention, the Mayor's wife denounced, as she mentioned, a coordinated attack against her family, with the aim of political attrition of her husband.
In her statement, which she posted on Social Media, she stressed that she felt the need to take a stand in order to protect her family from "malice and gossip".
She clarified that she does not need any form of protection or "self-appointed protectors with expediency", underlining that those who know her in her workplace, in her family and friendly environment, know that she is not a victim and does not feel fear. At the same time, she referred to her long life together with her husband, noting that they have been living in harmony for 20 years.
She described the Mayor as a wonderful man, dignified and honest, stating that she was proud of both his character and the political battles he is fighting. In closing, she appealed for political games to stay away from her and her family, stressing that she does not want them to be involved in political confrontations.
In a newer post, she states the following: "As my last public intervention, I want to state that I never reported my husband to the Police. The claims that I reported my husband to the Police and that I gave a statement or testimonies are completely false. My question is why would anyone claim such a thing? What interest does it have? Does it follow someone's instructions? In exchange for what? And what is the pursuit? Why shouldn't they think that they are insulting the other unprovoked and unjustifiably? Why not respect the other and his children? What kind of people are they? Are they the ones who will wake us up or the ones who will mislead us to serve their own purposes?"
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With the continuation of the examination of testimony concerning material that emerged from online investigations by the Police, the trial of the case against a German real estate agent continued on Monday at the Nicosia Criminal Court. The accused faces charges related to advertising and exploitation of Greek Cypriot land in the occupied areas.
At the beginning of the proceedings, the defense attorney, Sotiris Argyrou, asked the court for time during the day to translate the defendant's affidavit and to discuss with his client in order to prepare the testimony, which will accompany a request to modify the terms of detention.
It is recalled that during the previous hearing, the defense and the prosecution agreed, at the suggestion of the Court, that an affidavit of the accused be submitted in writing by the defense in relation to what Mr. Argyrou had said about the conditions of detention of the accused and that the defense should also respond in writing.
Subsequently, the examination of constable Christos Hatzivassiliou, who was summoned by the representative of the Prosecution Authority, Anna Mattheou, on his supplementary report on an online investigation he conducted in October 2024, continued.
Specifically, the witness presented short promotional videos with holiday properties in the occupied territories with the logo of the company VePa immobilien, which he had spotted on the social media accounts of a real estate company.
He also showed a post showing the accused with another face, accompanied by a description of the progress of the work in a holiday resort under development in the occupied territories, as well as other videos, where the accused appears to present and guide the above person in one of the complexes.
Mr. Argyrou submitted an objection at this point, referring to an attempt to create impressions against the accused, adding that the witness is not able to confirm whether the texts of the posts, which are presented, were written by the accused, with the court rejecting the objection.
In other videos presented, the accused appears to re-promote the complex in question along with messages calling for investments in holiday resorts in the occupied territories and discussing with another person the details of another complex as soon as it is completed.
Mr. Argyrou questioned the process by which the material is presented as, as he said, he will not be able to re-examine in a language that no one understands (German), with the president of the court, Nikolas Georgiadis, replying that another witness is expected to testify on the translation of the material presented.
The court set the continuation of the examination of the witness on Wednesday 10.30 a.m., with the accused remaining in custody.
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The detention order of the 48-year-old with Cypriot citizenship, who is alleged to be the leader of a group that demanded money for protection from businesses in Larnaca and appears to be involved in the unprecedented shooting episode in the city center on Saturday, January 17, has been renewed for another two days. This is a person who was injured during the fight that preceded and had been hospitalized.
Offenses of conspiracy to commit a felony, illegal possession and transport of a firearm, illegal possession of explosives, extortion, demand of property with threats, participation in a criminal organization, assault causing actual bodily harm are being investigated against him. It is noted that the suspect has also been re-arrested for a case of beating and causing grievous bodily harm to a European citizen in Pyla, which happened a day before the incident in the center of Larnaca.
In the detention order filed with the court, it is repeated that the criminal group approached a businessman of a premises on avenue. Grigoris Afxentiou and seems to have initially asked him for €7,000 for protection and then €1,000 euros per month. The first strike was made by phone to the businessman by a person of Arab origin. Threats over the phone followed, according to the complaint, while on Saturday, January 17, the person of Arab origin, who is wanted, went to the spot and allegedly threatened the complainant with a knife.
Shortly after 3 pm, vehicles approached the area at high speed and 20 people disembarked from them. These persons demanded money from the complainant and when he refused, they allegedly started beating him. Then the complainant together with a relative and two of his friends reacted and counterattacked with an ax and crowbars. This was followed by the firing of two shots outside a fast food restaurant with a pistol allegedly held by a member of the 48-year-old's team. It was also testified in court that information was received that the 48-year-old together with 15 people went to two entertainment centers in Larnaca at the beginning of January and informed the security guards that they undertook the protection of the premises.
For the case, 4 other foreigners are in custody, while three others are wanted. It is noted that five foreigners were initially arrested, however, one was released.
It is recalled that as part of the investigation of the case, the Larnaca TAE handcuffed two businessmen, 47 and 43 years old. The two had meetings with the complainant in the case and allegedly asked him to change his testimony. The suspects are expected to be brought before the Larnaca District Court again tomorrow and a case will be registered against them, as Filenews is informed, for interference in a judicial process and conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor.
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Cyprus Police
The Limassol District Court issued a four-day detention order today against a 25-year-old man, who was arrested yesterday to facilitate the investigation into an ongoing case of motorcycle theft, assault, threat, stabbing and assault against a police officer.
Around 4pm yesterday, the Police received information from a citizen that on a Limassol street, he spotted an unknown person pushing his motorcycle, which had been stolen in the previous days. By the time the Police arrived at the scene, the complainant allegedly approached the stranger in a friendly manner, resulting in the stranger attacking them and threatening them with a knife.
Upon the arrival of the Police, the unknown person allegedly attacked the complainant's friend, resulting in his arrest by members of the Police for a flagrant offense. In the attempt of the police officers to restrain him, the unknown person attacked the members of the Police, resulting in his being stopped and re-arrested for a new flagrant offense.
As it was established, this is a 25-year-old man, in whose possession a knife was found after a body search and confiscated.
An arrest warrant was issued against the 25-year-old, pursuant to which he was arrested and taken into custody.
This morning he appeared before the Limassol District Court, which issued a four-day detention order against him.
The Limassol Criminal Investigation Department continues its examinations.
