Sunday, May 17, 2026

CRIME ROUND UP

 Filenews 17 May 2026



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 police operations, four (4) persons were arrested for various offenses, such as theft, conspiracy to commit a felony, drunkenness, causing concern and resisting legal arrest.

As part of these operations, during the night, 582 drivers and 169 passengers were stopped and checked. At the same time, 54 inspections of premises were carried out, with the aim of dealing with phenomena of delinquency, where eighteen (18) complaints emerged.

During traffic checks carried out, 270 complaints were made, concerning various traffic violations, while 18 investigated cases of traffic violations also emerged.

Of the complaints made, 120 complaints from drivers for exceeding the speed limit stand out, while in the context of the police examinations, 11 vehicles were detained.

Also, 225 alcohol tests were carried out, where 21 complaints emerged.

Coordinated policing operations, for the prevention and suppression of crime, continue daily, with an increased/enhanced police presence,

targeted controls and immediate operational action, with the aim of increasing the sense of security of citizens/protecting citizens and ensuring public order.

* * * * * *

The three suspects arrested on Thursday remain a sphinx, after a broad operation and investigation by the Organized Crime Sub-Directorate, which opened the dance of arrests against the background of the action of a criminal organization in Cyprus.

An important link between the criminal organization, with tentacles in Cyprus, seems, according to the evidence held by the investigators of the case, to be the couple from Limassol. In addition to financial and banking investigations that have already been carried out, the investigators are looking for important evidence that will strengthen the witness material. It is recalled that the 50-year-old and her 49-year-old husband are in custody for a period of seven days, as is the 45-year-old suspected special constable, for a period of eight days.

The suspects' mobile phones were taken for scientific examinations, while various documents were found from the searches carried out at their residence, which will also be evaluated and checked.

At the same time, a large number of testimonies are expected to be taken from various persons. The next step of the investigators is to secure basic testimony regarding the origin of the sums of money.

As "F" wrote in yesterday's publication, 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.

The investigative team investigating the action of the criminal organization, after the arrest of the 50-year-old and the 49-year-old, found that a series of criminal acts were committed in Limassol and seem to be linked to people of the wanted person's criminal organization, while according to testimony, the 49-year-old suspect is said to be a person who has asked for money for protection from some victims of criminal acts.

It is recalled that the 50-year-old suspect is a cousin of the wanted person who lives in Dubai. The same information states that photos of herself, members of her family, as well as the wanted man were found in her home.

It is noted that from January 2025 until today, the 50-year-old suspect went to Dubai twice and four times to Thessaloniki, while the 49-year-old suspect went to Thessaloniki eight times.

Both suspects allegedly received sums of money and deposited them in the accounts of third parties, while at the same time they often communicated with people of organized crime through telephone devices and installed applications. In some cases, the suspect allegedly made cash deposits through automatic cash registers in Limassol.

From the examinations carried out, it became clear that the way of life of the suspects is not in line with their financial data, since property is found which does not seem to be justified by their declared income and the movements of their bank accounts.

According to the preliminary report of an accountant, who studied the financial data of the suspects, the acquisition of vehicles with a total value of €269.500, cash deposits of €47.617,22, which do not result from previous cash withdrawals, as well as unjustified inflows into the bank accounts of the 50-year-old suspect amounting to €75.785,14 are not justified. At the same time, undue inflows were found in her 49-year-old husband's Revolut account, totalling €30,433.39. That is, property totalling €423,335.

Photos of a wanted man, trips to Dubai and suspicious statements

During the search of their home, according to information from "F", the sum of €15.515, expensive women's bags from branded companies, expensive shoes from branded companies, a photo of the family together with the wanted person, as well as telephone devices were found and received as evidence.

It should be noted that for one of the phone devices, the 50-year-old suspect initially falsely claimed that it was not hers, but belonged to a customer.

As far as the 45-year-old special police officer is concerned, the investigation of the case continues, since a large number of statements are expected to be taken in this case as well. According to the authorities, they are not in line with his declared income as a member of the Police.

The crime of participation in a criminal organization is not being investigated against this suspect. However, offences involving money laundering are being investigated.

* * * * * *

On 16/05/2026, officials of the Customs Department, as part of the usual checks they carry out for the implementation of the Green Line Regulation at the Agios Dometios crossing point, proceeded to check a towing truck finding that the fuel tank was filled with diesel supplied from the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

Specifically, 200 liters of diesel were found in the fuel tank, which the Greek Cypriot driver admitted to filling from a gas station in the occupied territories. The officials of the Customs Department proceeded to remove and confiscate the above quantity as well as to confiscate the vehicle. Later, a proposal was accepted by the driver involved for an out-of-court settlement of the case with the payment of an amount of €800, at which time the vehicle was returned to him.

The Customs Department reiterates the recommendation to professional drivers and owners of trucks and other commercial vehicles that it is expressly prohibited to refuel their vehicles and/or to transport additional quantities of fuel from the occupied areas.

In addition, we re-inform passers-by with private vehicles that it is forbidden to transport additional containers of fuel from the occupied territories to their vehicles beyond the quantity that the fuel tank of each vehicle holds, due to non-compliance with the requirements of the relevant European Directive (for transporting an additional tank of 10 liters in the vehicle) and in particular with that of occasional transport.