Filenews 28 August 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 policing operations, eight persons were arrested for various offenses, such as theft, drunkenness and causing concern in a public place, illegal stay on the territory of the Republic, as well as pending court fine warrants.
As part of these operations, during the night, 375 vehicles were stopped for inspection and 518 persons on board were checked. At the same time, 93 inspections of premises were carried out, with the aim of dealing with phenomena of delinquency, from which one complaint emerged.
During traffic checks carried out, 240 complaints were made, concerning various traffic violations, while eight investigated cases of traffic violations also emerged. As part of the police examinations, eight vehicles were detained.
Of the complaints made about traffic violations, 95 complaints concerned exceeding the speed limit. Seven complaints were made for driving under the influence of alcohol, while two cases of driving under the influence of drugs emerged, after preliminary drug tests. For driving under the influence of alcohol, 160 checks were carried out on vehicle drivers, while for driving under the influence of drugs, four driver checks were carried out.
Policing operations, for the prevention and suppression of crime, continue daily, with an enhanced police presence, targeted controls and immediate operational action, with the aim of protecting citizens and ensuring public order.
* * * * * *
The Customs Department proceeded with the seizures of duty-free tobacco products at the crossing points to the occupied areas of Ledra Street and Agios Dometios in three cases from August 23 to 27, imposing an out-of-court fine of a total amount of €5,090.
Specifically, in today's announcement, the Customs Department states that on 23/8/2026, officials of the Customs Department, as part of the usual checks they carry out for the implementation of the Green Line Regulation at the Ledra Street Crossing Point, stopped a pedestrian, to check the goods in her possession.
He adds that during the inspection carried out on the personal bags of the passer-by, tobacco packages for a roll-your-own cigarette with a total weight of 2 kilograms and 250 grams were found, which did not bear the marking for the harmful nature of smoking in the Greek and Turkish languages, nor the safety feature and the unique traceability code, indications that they were duty-free.
According to the Department, the tobacco products were confiscated and will follow the prescribed destruction procedure.
He states that the passer-by was initially arrested for the flagrante delicto, while she was later released, after her proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the case was accepted, with the payment of an amount of €790.
Besides, on 25/8/2026, 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, a taxi vehicle with Turkish Cypriot registration numbers carried by a 39-year-old man.
During the check carried out on the passenger's travel luggage, according to the Customs Department, 13 boxes of 200 cigarettes each and 4 packages of cigars with a total quantity of 40 pieces were found, which did not bear the marking for the harmfulness of smoking in the Greek and Turkish languages, nor the security feature and the unique traceability code, indications that they were duty-free.
The tobacco products were confiscated and will follow the prescribed destruction procedure.
It is also reported that the person involved was initially arrested for the spontaneous offenses, while he was later released, after his proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the case was accepted, with the payment of an amount of €800.
Finally, on 27/8/2026, officials of the Customs Department, also at the Agios Dometios Crossing Point, stopped for inspection a taxi vehicle with Turkish Cypriot registration numbers carrying a 60-year-old man with his family.
In the announcement, the Customs Department states that during the check carried out on its travel luggage, 44 boxes of 200 cigarettes each and packages of tobacco for rolled cigarettes with a total weight of 2 kg and 575 grams were found carefully hidden, which did not bear the marking for the harmful of smoking in the Greek and Turkish languages, but neither did the security feature and the unique traceability code, indications that they were duty-free.
The tobacco products were confiscated and will follow the prescribed destruction procedure.
According to the Department, the person involved was initially arrested for the self-inflicted offenses, while he was later released, after his proposal for an out-of-court settlement of the case was accepted, with the payment of an amount of €3.500.
* * * * * *
The Police are investigating a new case of online fraud with investments in cryptocurrencies with a victim who allegedly lost around €65.000.
In a relevant announcement, it is stated that in the province of Nicosia, the Police are investigating a complaint submitted yesterday to the TAE Nicosia, by a 53-year-old man.
Specifically, on August 26, the 53-year-old received a phone call from an unknown person, who spoke Greek, who told him that he would help him cash out profits he made from his past investments in cryptocurrencies. The suspect referred the 53-year-old to a second suspect, his alleged supervisor, who asked the 53-year-old to keep a specific web application on his computer and mobile phone.
After the 53-year-old followed the instructions of the suspects, he gave them access to his online bank account, as a result of which the perpetrators carried out a number of transactions, extracting a total of €65,415.
The case is being investigated by the Financial Crime Investigation Unit, of the Nicosia Police Department.
The Police, on the occasion of this new fraud complaint, recommends special attention to the public. It is pointed out that the provision of access to electronic devices to other persons, as well as access to online accounts, should be avoided, while personal and bank account information should be protected and never disclosed.
In relation to the conduct of any transactions and investments over the internet, the public is urged to cooperate only with recognized companies and approved advisors, for any financial investments.
* * * * * *
In the Republic of Cyprus, the burden has fallen on the 43-year-old Russian Alexei Sokpa, who is wanted by the Greek authorities for participation in the "Endik" ring and the murder of Vangelis Zampounis, while he is in custody in the occupied territories.
The so-called "Police" of the pseudo-state arrested Sokpas last Monday in an operation in Agios Ambrosios, Kyrenia, for illegal entry into a military zone and from the first moment there has been an understanding between Cyprus and Greece on the case.
The cross-checked information of "F" states that based on understandings made between the Cyprus Police and the Hellenic Police, the efforts are focused on the special bi-communal group (Republic of Cyprus – pseudo-state). The latter handles such cases and has informal cooperation, through the United Nations, for the surrender of persons suspected of criminal acts.
Cooperation through the UN
A central figure in the Bicommunal Technical Committee for Crime from the Greek Cypriot side is the former Chief of Police, Kypros Michaelides. The latter was reportedly informed about the conditions concerning Sokpas and conveyed the request from the Cypriot side.
It should be noted that the scenario for the use of informal cooperation between the Republic and the pseudo-state in order to achieve the ultimate goal of issuing Sokpa in Greece, is not supported only by information.
It also seemed likely, due to cases in the past. Typical is the case of an Israeli who was wanted in his country for murder, was arrested a year ago in the occupied territories and handed over to the Republic of Cyprus through the United Nations, and after prior consultation of the bi-communal group. The reason for the 36-year-old wanted by the Israeli authorities, Daniel Yehonatan Zarug, who was suspected of the death ambush in the city of Ashdod on 24/3/2024.
Of course, a source of "F" points out that a scenario of the surrender of the 43-year-old wanted man to Turkey should not be ruled out.
Clarifies
The only thing that is certain is that today, when the detention order issued (25/8) by a pseudo-court against Sokpas expires, the scene is expected to be clarified. That is, the intentions of the "authorities" of the occupied territories for the case will be revealed.
The Cypriot interest
Sokpa is said to be active in the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus, where, as has been written in the past, "Edik" is said to have expanded its activities through local actors.
After all, according to what the "Police" reported in the pseudo-court last Tuesday, the 43-year-old allegedly said during his interrogation that he crossed into the free areas using the area near the illegal airport of Tymbou and that in July 2026 he returned to the occupied territories through the same area. According to the pseudo-police, Sokpa lived in the occupied territories without permission for 389 days, from July 31, 2025.
In other words, based on what was presented to the so-called "Court", Edick's 43-year-old associate had the opportunity to go back and forth between the occupied territories and the Republic through illegal crossing points.
Sokpa is wanted by the Hellenic Police (EL.AS), since he is the main suspect in the case of the murder of Vangelis Zampounis, which was committed on January 14, 2024 in the area of Neos Kosmos in Athens outside a gas station. Zapounis was shot using a Kalashnikov and a pistol (97 bullets), while the murderous plan was allegedly executed by three people. The blow in question was linked by EL.AS. with the action of the criminal organization of smuggling tobacco products, which has "Edik" as its leader.
We remind you that "Edik" was arrested in Dubai last July with the Cyprus Police not being indifferent to the developments. As it is believed, the activities of the suspect, on the basis of testimonies, have long since extended to Cyprus. As it is known, the police force had arrested two persons last May, whom it considered to be connected to Edik.
In the previous days, specifically within the first ten days of August, three arrests were made of persons connected to the ring in question. These are one arrest in Germany (31-year-old) and two in Paleo Faliro (49-year-old and 37-year-old).
