Pafos Live 9 January 2026
Members of the Police, in cooperation with members of the Game and Fauna Service, went shortly before 9.00 last night to an area in Pera Chorio Nisou, following information about persons who are in the area and possess hunting weapons. In the area, they first located two 41-year-old men and their car, and then they found a third man, aged 57, whom they subjected to a check.
During the searches at the scene, two air guns, and two boxes with 700 air gun pellets were found near a tree trunk. From the examinations that followed, it was found that one of the air guns belongs to one of the two 41-year-olds and that the second air gun belongs to a relative of the second 41-year-old, a 49-year-old man.
Also during the searches, a vest was found, in which there were three murdered wild birds, which is believed to be a vine bird and two finches. The vest, according to what the 57-year-old said, belongs to him. A box with a quantity of white powder, believed to be cocaine, weighing 0,5 grams, was also found in it, as a result of which the 57-year-old was arrested for the crime of drug possession. He was later released, with YKAN continuing the examinations.
The poaching case is being investigated by the Pera Chorio Police Station, which continues the examinations in collaboration with the Game and Fauna Service.
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Filenews
Investigations and examinations with the first light of day were started by the investigators of the TAE Limassol, in collaboration with a pyrotechnician, in relation to an explosion that occurred today in the early hours of the morning (9/1), in a house in Agios Tychonas.
At the same time, the 39-year-old Russian owner of the house is expected to cross the threshold of the Limassol Police Department, in order to give a statement in relation to the criminal act against him.
It is noted that material from closed circuit monitoring systems in the area will be taken for study, in an attempt to identify the movements of the perpetrator.
It is recalled that the explosion occurred around 1:50am.
From the first examinations carried out by members of the Police at the scene, it appears that in an open area, next to the residence and near a closed vehicle parking lot, a firecracker exploded, which had been thrown together with an incendiary object, specifically with liquid flammable material.
The 39-year-old and his wife live in the residence. The scene was placed under police guard so that further examinations could be carried out this morning.
At the same time, under the microscope of the authorities, the possibility that it is the same explosive device that was placed in the early hours of Tuesday in the offices of a company active in the field of providing loans for the purchase of cars is being examined.
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The investigations of the TAE of Larnaca in relation to the unprecedented case of the death of a 78-year-old man and the transfer of four people to the hospital, after drinking water from a cooler in which the substance GBL (gamma-Butyrolactone) was detected, are focused on scientific documentation.
After the specialized analyzes of the State Chemical Laboratory, it became clear that a liquid contained in a cleaner (occlusive) that is legally on the market was thrown into the cooler. It is, however, a substance that is also used as a substitute by drug users, since it is converted in the body into GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid), a powerful depressant, which in large doses can cause serious health complications and even death.
The fact that this substance is also used as a drug substitute turns the investigations in a specific direction, since the 78-year-old's son was arrested on December 28 for a drug case and has been in custody ever since. Methamphetamine, ecstasy pills and cannabis were found in his possession, among other things.
According to information from police sources, from testimonies received so far, it seems that on Saturday, January 3, the contents of another bottle containing GBL liquid were thrown into the existing cooler bottle, without it being realized that it was not water. The 73-year-old owner of the house drank lemonade, fainted and was taken to the hospital.
The 78-year-old then returned home and that same night he was found dead by his daughter. The next day, around noon, relatives and friends rushed to the house to offer condolences to the rest of the family members. There, according to the testimonies so far, the water bottle in the cooler was replaced. However, it seems that quantities of the substance GBL remained in the cooler, as a result of which the sister and sibling of the deceased, aged 81 and 62, as well as his 78-year-old neighbour fainted after drinking coffee and water. They were immediately taken to the Larnaca Hospital, where the doctors on duty provided the two with an antidote for poisoning.
The case, according to the same sources, contains a criminal aspect that is being investigated, but everything indicates that what happened is due to a mistake and not to fraud. The investigators of the TAE Larnaca are waiting for the blood analyzes of the four persons, the specialized tests on the samples taken from the body of the 78-year-old and the scientific tests on evidence taken from the house, as well as from the basement in which the 44-year-old lived.
Once these examinations are completed, then two, key to the case, testimonies will be taken. The first by the 73-year-old owner of the house and the second by her 44-year-old son.
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The Police arrested three persons last night and the targeted preventive operations they carry out with an enhanced presence in key points of urban areas, with the aim of preventing serious criminal acts, protecting citizens and ensuring public order.
Specifically, a person in Paphos, as part of an investigation of a case of violence in the family, and a person in Limassol, as part of an investigation of a case of non-appearance before a Court, were arrested on the basis of court warrants, while a person was arrested in Nicosia for a self-inflicted offense, for driving a vehicle at excessive speed.
During the night, 278 vehicles were stopped for inspection and 346 persons on board 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 inspections carried out, 113 complaints were made, concerning various traffic violations, while four investigated cases of traffic violations also emerged.
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 Paphos police continued last night extensive checks in parts of the main road network and on the secondary road network with the aim of preventing road collisions.
During the campaign late yesterday afternoon, 180 checks and vehicle inspections were carried out and 60 complaints emerged for various violations of the traffic code. Seven vehicles that were deemed unfit to circulate or whose drivers did not hold the necessary certificates were detained at the offices of the Paphos traffic police.
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An incredible yet true theft incident took place at the premises of the Department of Road Transport in Limassol, where a 35-year-old Greek Cypriot allegedly removed 25 metal rainwater gratings, eventually ending up in the cell as a suspect. He went to the venue twice until he managed to steal them... due to weight.
The 35-year-old was arrested yesterday morning and today (9/1), Friday, he was brought before the Limassol District Court for the issuance of a detention order. The Court approved the request of the Police and ordered his pre-trial detention for a period of three days.
According to the facts of the case, a study of the closed circuit surveillance found that on January 3, a vehicle was parked in front of the main entrance of the TOM, which was closed with a bar, as it was Saturday and the offices were closed.
As it was established, the man got out of the vehicle and went on foot to the place where the racks were. He removed them and placed them in a row on the ground. He then left the place and returned after about two hours, where he headed back to the place where the grates were. There, using a small trolley and with the help of a rope, he tried to place the racks on the trolley. The 35-year-old suspect finally failed to move the trolley due to the weight.
On Monday, January 5, the Director of the TOM found that the gratings had been moved from their position and gave instructions to put them back in place.
After two days, it was found by the same person that a total of 25 metal rainwater gratings, with a total value of €500, were missing from the scene.
From an inspection carried out in the closed circuit surveillance, it was found that in the early hours of January 7, a vehicle entered and parked in the area where the facilities of the Scout Corps are located. Subsequently, a man on foot entered the area of the TOM and removed the racks from the base to the ground with his hands, loaded them into his vehicle and, after taking about half an hour to load them, left the place.
After his arrest, the 35-year-old, under interrogation, denied involvement in the case and made various allegations. The investigations continue while statements will also be taken from sellers / dealers of scrap metals.
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The Permanent Criminal Court of Larnaca imposed a six-year prison sentence on a 44-year-old Greek Cypriot for possession of 2 kilograms of cannabis last April. This is a heavy sentence, based on the amount of drugs found in his possession, however the court counted as an aggravating factor his previous conviction for another case of possession of cannabis. The defendant was found guilty of charges of possession of drugs with the intent to supply them to other people.
According to the facts of the case on April 6, 2025, after surveillance, a search warrant was executed by YKAN in a prefabricated premises maintained by the accused in Larnaca. At the entrance of the police the 44-year-old threw a package of drugs out of the window and then tried to escape by jumping from it. He did not manage to go far, however, after being stopped by members of the Anti-Drug Service. In a subsequent search of the premises, another package of cannabis was found. In total, the two packages contained almost 2 kilograms of cannabis. He claimed that the drugs had been handed over to him for safekeeping purposes by another person, to whom he had a personal obligation.
The accused, through his lawyer, requested that his personal circumstances be taken into account as a mitigating factor. The Permanent Criminal Court, however, noted that according to case law, personal circumstances in drug trafficking cases are minor. It is noted that the 44-year-old had previously been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for possession of cannabis. The case was handled on behalf of the Prosecution by Antonis Antoniou.
