Filenews 8 January 2026
The targeted preventive operations of the Police continued during last night, with an enhanced presence in key points of urban areas, with the aim of preventing serious criminal acts, protecting citizens and ensuring public order.
As part of these operations, the Police proceeded to arrest seven persons for various offenses, as follows:
- Arrest of a person for driving under the influence of alcohol.
- Arrest of a person for possession of an offensive instrument.
- Arrest of a person for a case of illegal possession of property and drugs.
- Arrest of a person for theft.
- Arrest of a person for failure to appear before a Court.
- Arresting a person for exceeding the speed limit.
- Arrest of a person for a case of illegal possession of property.
During the night, 371 vehicles were stopped for inspection and 214 persons in them were checked. At the same time, 21 inspections of premises were carried out, with the aim of preventing and suppressing delinquent behaviours.
From the traffic checks carried out, 133 complaints emerged concerning various traffic violations, four of which concerned driving under the influence of alcohol. The total number of alcohol tests on vehicle drivers amounted to 209. At the same time, as part of the investigation of traffic offenses, six 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.
* * * * * *
The Police are investigating the circumstances and causes of death of a 78-year-old man, as well as the circumstances and causes of illness of his 72-year-old wife and three other relatives, aged 62, 77 and 81.
According to the data under investigation, on the night of Saturday, January 03, the 78-year-old was found by his daughter lying unconscious at his residence in Larnaca and was transported by an ambulance crew to Larnaca General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
On the same night, the Police were informed about the death of the 78-year-old, who at the same time proceeded to investigate to verify the circumstances and causes of his death.
Earlier on Saturday, the 72-year-old wife of the 78-year-old fell ill and was hospitalized at the Larnaca General Hospital, while the day after the death of the 78-year-old, Sunday, January 04, his sister, aged 81, his sibling, aged 62, as well as his neighbour, aged 77, had a meeting at his home, who, during this meeting, After preparing and consuming coffee and water, using water from a water cooler in the 78-year-old's home, they fell ill and allegedly lost communication with the environment.
The three were transported by ambulance to the Larnaca General Hospital, where they are still being treated, with their health condition, according to the treating doctors, now stable and out of danger.
The 72-year-old wife of the 78-year-old is still being treated at the Larnaca General Hospital, with her health condition also stable and out of danger.
As part of the police examinations, a search was carried out at the residence of the 78-year-old, from where various items were received, including samples to receive scientific, laboratory tests.
What is the essence:
GBL (gamma-Butyrolactone) is a colourless, liquid organic compound that acts as a precursor to GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid), a powerful central nervous system depressant, used medically as well as illegally as a drug (known as the "rape pill" or for entertainment), metabolized in the body into GHB, which has effects similar to barbiturates or alcoholic substances, causing drowsiness, euphoria and loss of consciousness.
- Properties: It is clear, liquid, mixes with water and has a pleasant smell.
- Recreational use: It is used illegally as a drug (eg, at parties), causing euphoria, relaxation, but also severe sedation, nausea, memory loss and coma.
- "Rape pill": Due to its properties of causing immediate drowsiness and memory loss, it is used illegally in sexual assaults.
- Serious Risks: High doses or mixing with alcohol or other sedatives can lead to respiratory failure, coma, and death.
- The substance is used in cleaning products.
TAE Larnaca continues the exams.
* * * * * *
He does not have a passport, does not have permanent residence, did not comply with decisions to return to his country and asked for his release because he has been detained for a long time.
The Supreme Court, in its decision, vindicated the Authorities of the Republic, that they took all actions to re-evaluate his condition and that it is his fault that he continues to be detained.
This is a Congolese citizen, who arrived in Cyprus illegally through the occupied territories and, after crossing into the free areas, on 22.7.2022 submitted an asylum application which on 12.11.2024 was withdrawn due to tacit abandonment of withdrawal.
He was later located in Paphos and arrested and has been detained since February. However, after a review of his application, he was rearrested on 12.5.2025 and has been detained ever since.
With a request to the Supreme Court, he requested the issuance of a serial decree for his dismissal.
As stated by the Supreme Court, based on the data put before the Court, the detention of the applicant was deemed necessary on the basis of the risk of his escape if:
· He has not complied with previous return decisions, (rejection of the CAA dated 29.11.2024 and deportation order dated 12.2.2025)
· Does not have a residence address
· No valid travel document found
· Declared their non-intention to comply with a return decision
· He was considered a prohibited immigrant under Article 6(1)(k) of Cap. 105, he was arrested and detention and deportation orders were issued against him dated 12.2.2025
· He is being held for the purpose of repatriation and his application for international protection was submitted in order to highlight obstacles to his repatriation process.
The Court found that all actions to re-evaluate his case were taken and in combination with the total period of time he has been in detention since the issuance of the first detention order (dated 12.2.2025), do not demonstrate negligence and inaction on the part of the authorities.
On the contrary, given the exercise of the applicant's right to lodge an appeal which hinders the return process, the authorities continue to wish to continue to promote the applicant's return procedure and to examine at regular intervals whether alternative measures exist or whether his further detention is justified.
As stated in the decision, from the moment that during each assessment carried out in accordance with the Law, the reasons for which the applicant's detention is considered justified continue to apply, and these reasons include his own behaviour and situation, i.e. non-permanent address, non-possession of a passport and non-intention to return, then the period of time during which the applicant is detained is not such that it can be considered to have become illegal, in particular if the total period of detention of the applicant does not exceed 12 months.
It was the conclusion of the Supreme Court that it has not been demonstrated at this stage that the applicant's detention has become illegal.
* * * * * *
The two defendants involved in two cases of attempted destruction of property with explosives will remain on trial until the start of the hearing before the Permanent Criminal Court of Limassol. One case concerns a beer garden in Zakaki and the second a café in the same area.
During today's (8/1) referral process of the case, the representative of the Prosecuting Authority requested the detention of the two defendants until the trial, which was set for mid-February, citing the risk of evading justice as well as the risk of committing similar offenses. The lawyer of the 36-year-old Greek Cypriot objected to the detention request, referring to the problems that exist in the Central Prisons, as well as the CPT report and what was found after her visit to the Central Prisons in December 2025. He also cited some serious problems faced by his client.
The Court, however, ruled that both defendants remain in custody until the start of the trial, noting that there is a risk of repetition of the offenses, especially for the 36-year-old defendant, who had recently been released on parole, after serving a three-year prison sentence for a drug case.
The 44-year-old defendant from Sri Lanka, under interrogation, admitted that on the instructions of the 36-year-old Greek Cypriot, he placed explosive devices both in the beer hall on December 30 and in the early hours of Christmas outside a café. He even claimed that the 36-year-old promised him a monetary reward of €1.000.
As for the explosive device in the cafeteria, it did not explode, while according to testimonies, after two hours, the two defendants returned by vehicle to pick it up.
It should be noted that the study of closed surveillance circuits recorded the movements of the 44-year-old in both cases, while in the case of the cafeteria, the movements of the 36-year-old Greek Cypriot were also identified. The two defendants face charges related to conspiracy to commit a felony, attempted destruction of property with explosives, possession and transportation of explosives, as well as theft of a motorcycle.
It is recalled that the 44-year-old from Sri Lanka, in the early hours of December 30, tried to place an explosive device in a beer hall and was stopped by its owner. According to the latter's testimony, he realized that opposite his beer garden there was a suspicious person standing next to a scooter-type motorcycle, in his possession a jerry can with flammable material and an object that looked like an explosive device. The 28-year-old, along with other persons, immobilized the 44-year-old and asked for the immediate intervention of the Police. While the patrols were heading to the scene, he managed to escape before their arrival.
Patrols of ADE Limassol rushed to the scene, which surrounded the area, preserved the evidence and began investigations to locate the suspect. About 40 minutes later, the 44-year-old was found hiding in bushes near the area.
At the place where the 44-year-old was initially located, various items were found, including a jerry can with flammable material and an improvised cylindrical metal explosive device, which contained a quantity of explosive material and was connected to an improvised means of detonation. As the 44-year-old from Sri Lanka was found, Ahmed resides illegally in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
