Pafos Live 16 May 2026
A 22-year-old man was arrested by members of the Paphos TAE, yesterday afternoon, by virtue of a court warrant, as part of the investigation of cases of arson, committed in the province of Paphos, in March and April, 2026.
These are:
- arson of a car, committed on 25/03/2026
- arson of a building, committed on 04/04/2026
- arson of a car, committed on 06/04/2026
- Attempted arson of a building, committed on 15/04/2026
Two persons, a man and a woman aged 41 and 19, were arrested on 15/04/2026 for the case.
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Pafos Press
A new traffic accident that occurred on Friday afternoon in Paphos, near the OPAP stadiums, involving a minor scooter driver is causing concern. According to initial information, a vehicle collided under circumstances that are being investigated with a scooter driven by a 12-year-old, resulting in the minor being injured.
An ambulance rushed to the scene, which picked up the 12-year-old and transported him to Paphos General Hospital. According to initial information, the young man has minor injuries and is undergoing further examinations.
The incident brings to the fore the intense concern that prevails around the use of scooters by minors. The Police often express concern about the increased presence of minor drivers on city roads, without the necessary experience or protective measures, which significantly increases the risk of causing serious traffic accidents.
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Filenews
Members of the Paphos Police Department arrested three persons aged 14 and 15 over the last couple of days.
The arrest was preceded by a complaint from two food distributors aged 21 and 22, that around 21:30 on Saturday night, while they were in an area in Paphos, they were attacked by a number of people who threw stones, sticks and glass bottles at them while some of them were wearing hoods and masks that covered their faces. Also, according to the complaint, one of the perpetrators was holding a knife.
The 21-year-old and 22-year-old fled, while the perpetrators caused damage to their mopeds. About an hour later, the perpetrators located the two distributors in another place, where they attacked them again with stones and wood.
As a result of the attack, the 22-year-old was injured in the leg and after receiving first aid, he was discharged.
As part of the investigation of the case, a 15-year-old and two 14-year-olds were arrested on the basis of court warrants and were brought before the Paphos District Court today, which issued a detention order for them for a period of three days.
The Paphos TAE continues the examinations.
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The presence and action of the Police last night was intense, throughout Cyprus, with organized patrols in key points of urban areas, with the aim of preventing serious criminal acts, ensuring public order and increasing the sense of security of the public.
As a result of the preventive policing operations, three persons were arrested, for offenses such as illegal possession of drugs and illegal stay on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
During the night, 638 vehicles were stopped for inspection and 771 persons on board were checked. At the same time, 57 inspections of premises were carried out, with the aim of dealing with phenomena of delinquency, from which 13 complaints emerged.
During traffic checks carried out, 340 complaints were made, concerning various traffic violations, while 17 investigated cases of traffic violations also emerged. As part of the police examinations, 15 vehicles were detained.
Of the complaints made for traffic violations, the 99 complaints for exceeding the speed limit stand out. For driving under the influence of alcohol, 314 checks were carried out on vehicle drivers, during which 29 complaints were made, while for driving under the influence of drugs, five driver checks were carried out, with three positive preliminary results.
Policing operations, for the prevention and suppression of crime, continue every day, with an enhanced police presence, targeted controls and immediate operational action, in order to protect citizens and ensure public order.
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A 59-year-old man complained yesterday to the Paphos Police Department that during the current month, an unknown man contacted him via a social networking platform, who urged him to invest in cryptocurrencies.
After the 59-year-old was persuaded by the unknown man, he installed cryptocurrency applications on his mobile phone as well as a specific application through which the unknown man had access to the screen of his mobile phone.
In an audit carried out yesterday by the 59-year-old on accounts he maintains in two banking institutions in Cyprus, he found money transfers to unknown accounts, for the amounts of €12.000 and €13.000, as well as seven attempts to transfer money for the total amount of €34.600, to a banking institution abroad.
Following immediate actions by the Financial Crime Investigation Office of the Paphos TAE in cooperation with the two Cypriot banking institutions with which the 59-year-old maintains accounts, it has been possible to freeze the transfer of the amount of €13.000 as well as the amount of €34.600.
The Financial Crime Investigation Office of the Paphos Police Department continues the examinations.
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A close relative of a notorious person wanted by the Greek authorities, who is said to be living in Dubai, is, according to information the 50-year-old woman who was arrested yesterday in Limassol, behind activities which are part of a coordinated operation by the Police and the newly established Sub-Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (the so-called Cypriot FBI).
The two suspects were brought before the Nicosia District Court yesterday, which issued a seven-day detention order. At the same time, in a separate procedure before another court, a 45-year-old special constable, who is suspended after his arrest as part of the same operation to prevent and combat organized crime, also appeared. An eight-day detention order was issued against him.
The first operation of the Sub-Directorate for the Fight against Organized Crime was carried out in complete secrecy. According to information from Filenews, the authorities have serious information from a reliable informant, according to which the 50-year-old allegedly received large sums of money from associates of the wanted person. Part of the money, according to the Police, was sent through money transfer applications, while other amounts were transferred personally to Dubai or to his associates in Greece.
In fact, according to information received by the Cypriot Police from the Greek authorities, the 50-year-old suspect is said to be the cousin of the wanted man. The same information states that photos of herself, members of her family, as well as the wanted person who lives in Dubai were found in her home.
According to the Greek authorities, the wanted man is said to have set up a criminal organization with activity in the Republic of Cyprus as well. European and international arrest warrants are pending against him from 2024 and 2025 for offences such as theft, fraud, cigarette smuggling and participation in a criminal organisation.
The Cypriot Police had registered his details on the wanted list since May 2024, with instructions for his arrest in case he is found. The Greek authorities describe him as a leading member of an international criminal organization, with activities that include drug trafficking, cigarette smuggling, extortion, money laundering and murder on demand.
Criminal organization with links to networks in Cyprus
Investigators have information according to which the wanted man continues to coordinate his action from Dubai, through his associates in Greece and Cyprus. An evaluation of information shows that the alleged criminal organization maintained ties with rings in Cyprus, which were involved in blackmailing businessmen, "protection" of nightclubs and companies, as well as in drug trafficking cases.
According to the evidence under investigation, members of the rings allegedly used threats, arson, shooting and intimidation, especially against businessmen and companies that refused to pay money for "protection". Information also links the organization to threats to betting companies, private security and others.
In fact, from the examinations carried out, it appears that criminal acts committed in recent months in Limassol are related to persons connected to the wanted man's criminal organization. It is noteworthy that the complainants in these cases refused to name in writing the persons who threatened them, expressing fears for the physical integrity of both themselves and their families.
They present themselves as low-paid but had credits of €480,000
The authorities are also investigating financial data of the two suspects and according to the data so far, although they present themselves as low-paid, movements of hundreds of thousands of euros were recorded in their bank accounts. Specifically, the total appropriations are said to exceed €480,000 during the period 2020-2026.
Based on Social Insurance data, the declared incomes of the 50-year-old woman and her 49-year-old husband do not seem to justify the property and banking transactions identified. The analysis of bank accounts revealed, among other things, significant movements through Revolut accounts, as well as purchases of high-value vehicles.
Questioned in writing, the two suspects did not answer the questions of the investigators, stating that what they have to say they will report before the Court.
The Police examinations are at an advanced stage. So far, 29 statements have been received, five investigations have been carried out while a number of items are expected to be sent for scientific examinations and further analysis by the investigative team.
Deposits, luxury vehicles and frequent trips for the 45-year-old constable
For the 45-year-old special constable, a separate procedure was carried out, during which it was stated that the investigation focuses on his economic activity for the period 2020-2026. Particular attention was paid to his bank accounts and assets. After the issuance of court orders for access to them, a large number of deposits and remittances were identified that, according to the Authorities, are not in line with his declared income as a member of the Police.
At the same time, luxury vehicles were identified, the purchase of which does not seem to be covered by loans or bank withdrawals. It is noted, however, that part of the money appears to come from legitimate sources.
The investigator also stated that the police officer made regular trips to Greece, mainly to Athens and Thessaloniki, about every two months, creating a recurring pattern of travel. It is being examined whether these trips are related to the offenses under investigation, while it seems that purchases of air tickets made in cash were also identified.
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A "court" in occupied Famagusta on Friday accepted the request for detention of the 26-year-old suspect in the case of kidnapping a child from the free areas and ordered his three-day detention. Although the arrest of the man was made in the context of the investigations/processes for the abduction of a minor child from the areas controlled by the Republic (Limassol), the "court" focused on the charges related to the violation of a "military prohibited zone" and illegal entry/exit into the occupied territories. The man was arrested on Thursday in the occupied territories and was brought before the "district court" today.
According to what was reported before the "court", a police officer of the pseudo-state testified that the 26-year-old suspect allegedly went to the areas of the Republic of Cyprus on May 13, 2026, violating a "military prohibited zone". There, according to the same testimony, he went to the house of a British citizen, his ex-partner and mother of his child, where he allegedly used violence against her and took the two-year-old child, illegally transporting him to the occupied areas.
The "police" said that they received information about the incident and immediately proceeded to locate the suspect, who was finally found and arrested at his home on Thursday, as part of the investigation of the reported kidnapping.
At the same time, the investigation of the case is ongoing and information has been requested from the authorities of the Republic.
The "court" accepted the request for the suspect's detention and ordered his three-day detention, basing its decision solely on the charges related to the violation of a "military prohibited zone" and illegal trafficking to and from the occupied territories.
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A case of shooting at a building, in Nicosia, is being investigated by the Police.
Specifically around 4.15 a.m. today, while a motorized police patrol was moving on a street in Nicosia, he noticed a motorcycle moving suspiciously in the area and stopping outside a specific building.
A member of the Police approached the motorcycle for a check, however the motorcyclist pulled out and pointed a pistol at him. In the policeman's attempt to take cover and call for reinforcements, the motorcyclist shot at the building and fled.
Police patrols immediately went to the area, but it was not possible to locate the perpetrator.
Examinations carried out at the scene revealed that the shots caused damage to the glass showcase of the company's offices, which is housed in the building in question.
The TAE of Nicosia is investigating the case.
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Members of the Police in the province of Nicosia arrested a 56-year-old man, in connection with an investigated case of assisting the illegal entry, transit and stay in the territory of the Republic, of third-country nationals. The case is being investigated by the Pera Chorio Police Station.
Around 8.50 last night, members of the Police and specifically members of the MMAD, who were on patrol in the area of Dali - Lympia - Athienou, noticed a car being driven from the dead zone to the free areas of the Republic.
The 56-year-old driver of the vehicle failed to stop for a check and continued on his way, with members of the Police stopping him in the Alhambra area. The suspected driver tried to escape again and crashed his car into the patrol vehicle, as a result of which he was stopped at the scene.
During the inspection that followed, it was found that four other persons were in the vehicle, namely, two women aged 32 and 29 and two minors, 10 and 16 years old, all third-country nationals, who, as the 56-year-old himself allegedly reported to the police, he was transporting from the occupied to the free areas of the Republic.
The members of the Police proceeded to arrest the 56-year-old for self-inflicted offenses. He was brought before the Nicosia District Court this morning, which issued a six-day detention order for him for the purpose of police examinations.
The two women and two minors were transferred to the accommodation center in Kokkinotrimithia.
