Pafos Live 18 August 2026
The actions of the Anti-Drug Service (YKAN) continue at an intensive and targeted pace, for the detection and seizure of narcotic substances, as well as the identification and arrest of persons involved in cases of possession and trafficking of drugs.
Yesterday, members of YKAN, based on a court warrant, searched a house in Nicosia, where a 33-year-old man lives. During the search, they were found in various parts of the house, carefully hidden: Cannabis – Two kilos and five grams and Cocaine – 266 grams. The 33-year-old was arrested and taken into custody, while today he is expected to be brought before the Nicosia District Court, for the issuance of a detention order.
In another case, yesterday afternoon, members of the Police stopped for a check in the area of Limassol, a car driven by a 21-year-old man and moving suspiciously, without having front registration plates.
During the search that followed inside the vehicle, the following were found: Four nylon packages containing 46 grams of cannabis, a nylon package with a quantity of cocaine, weighing approximately 3,5 grams, a sum of money of 1,850 euros, a precision scale, disposable gloves and other evidence. The 21-year-old was arrested for a self-inflicted crime and then re-arrested on the basis of a court warrant and taken into custody.
At the same time, as part of the investigation of a case of drug possession in the province of Larnaca, dated August 13, 2026, a 20-year-old man was arrested yesterday, who was taken into custody. The case concerns the location and possession of: Cannabis and cannabis resin weighing 342 grams and Cocaine weighing five grams. A 22-year-old man was also arrested for the same case, who was detained for four days.
During the night, five more cases emerged in Ayia Napa and Paphos, involving drug possession, for which five other persons, aged 23, 25, 26, 27 and 29, were arrested.
The systematic and targeted action of YKAN is also reflected in the overall results since the beginning of the year. Specifically, from January 1, 2026 until today, the Anti-Drug Service located and seized a total of 323 kilograms of cannabis and cannabis resin and 81 kilograms of cocaine.
These quantities, combined with the continuous operations, searches and arrests, demonstrate the continuous and decisive action of YKAN to deal with drug trafficking and trafficking and to protect society from the consequences of drugs.
Examinations for all cases continue.
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, six persons were arrested for various offenses, such as illegal possession of drugs, etc.
As part of these operations, during the night, 655 drivers and 207 passengers were stopped and checked. At the same time, 53 inspections of premises were carried out, with the aim of dealing with phenomena of delinquency, where four complaints emerged.
During traffic checks carried out, 518 complaints were made, concerning various traffic violations, while 21 investigated cases of traffic violations also emerged.
Of the complaints made, 87 driver complaints for exceeding the speed limit stand out, while as part of the police examinations, 14 vehicles were detained.
75 alcohol tests were carried out, from which four complaints emerged, while three cases of driving under the influence of drugs also emerged, after preliminary drug tests.
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.
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A reversal in a case linked to the alleged theft of millions from a Russian space program, as the Court of Appeal ordered the extradition of a fugitive to Russia, ruling that the arrest warrant against him remains in force. The man, who was arrested in Cyprus in November 2024, faces charges of fraudulently stealing foreign property and breach of trust, with Russian authorities claiming that approximately €7,8 million from state funding for the space program ended up being members of an organized team. It is worth noting that in the first instance decision, the Paphos District Court had rejected the request of the Russian authorities for his extradition to Russia
The unanimous decision was issued on August 11, 2026 by Judges H.V. Charalambous, M. Toumazis and Th. Thomas, who read the decision.
According to the facts of the case, the man faces charges in Russia of theft of foreign property by fraud and abuse of trust by an organized group on a large scale, in violation of Article 159(4) of the Russian Criminal Code.
According to the data put before the Cypriot courts, the case concerns a large Russian space program, which was financed by the Russian State with 15.15 billion rubles, an amount corresponding to more than €160 million. The man, who worked for the Russian space company that had undertaken the program and allegedly had an important role in decision-making, is accused of manipulating the selection of a specific company without a regular competition.
As stated in the decision, through a contract allegedly signed for an excessively high amount, 1.32 billion euros were transferred to the company. rubles. Of these, about 478 million. were used for the project, while about 840 million. rubles, i.e. about €7.8 million, were allegedly distributed among members of his team and "laundered" through financial transactions.
The accused was arrested in Cyprus on November 18, 2024, on the basis of a provisional arrest warrant, and the next day he appeared before the Paphos District Court, declaring an objection to his extradition. He was released on parole, followed by the extradition procedure following the authorization of the Minister of Justice and Public Order on December 20, 2024.
The Paphos District Court had rejected the extradition request in November 2025, ruling that it had not been proven that the Russian arrest warrant of December 18, 2020 was still active after January 16, 2021, the date until which the preliminary investigation had been extended.
The Court of Appeal disagreed with this judgment. As it held, it did not follow from the content of the warrant itself that it ceased to be valid after that date. Instead, the warrant stipulated that the period of detention would be calculated from the actual arrest of the Russian or, in the event of his extradition or deportation to Russia, from his surrender to the Russian authorities. As he had not yet been extradited or deported to Russia, the Court of Appeal ruled that this period of detention had not been activated.
A "Diffusion" type document, through which the Russian authorities requested international police cooperation to locate and arrest him, was also considered decisive. The document explicitly stated that there was no time limit for the validity of the arrest warrant. According to the Court of Appeal, this evidence constituted substantial testimony that had not been taken into account by the court of first instance.
The Court of Appeal also rejected the two grounds of cross-appeal raised by the accused. The claim that the warrant was problematic because the Russian text did not indicate the number of the criminal case was not accepted. The Court held that it had not been proven that the absence of the number rendered the warrant invalid or unenforceable.
The claim that the Russian authorities concealed essential elements from the Cypriot extradition process was also rejected. The Court of Appeal adopted the judgment of the court of first instance that the decisions of Russian courts that had returned a case of his accomplices to the Prosecutor, due to problems in expertise, did not prove a specific and individualized risk of violation of his rights.
The Court of Appeal also stressed that procedures for the extradition of fugitives are governed by the principle of courtesy between States and by a liberal interpretation of the relevant international conventions, with the aim of effectively combating serious crime at international level.
In its judgment, the Court of Appeal set aside the first-instance decision and ordered the extradition of the accused to the Russian Federation to stand trial for the offenses included in the authorization of the Minister of Justice dated December 20, 2024. At the same time, he ordered his arrest and police detention until he was handed over to the Russian authorities. The cross-appeal was dismissed.
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The Paphos District Court ordered the detention until October 7 of the 51-year-old monk accused, among other things, of attempted murder against a 53-year-old employee of the Holy Stavropegian Monastery of Agios Neophytos in Tala, Paphos, on Tuesday, a date on which he is expected to appear before the Paphos Criminal Court.
Announcing its decision, the Paphos District Court referred to the seriousness of the offense faced by the 51-year-old, noting that although he has some ties with the Republic of Cyprus, they are not so strong and therefore there is a risk of evasion.
The 51-year-old is also charged with illegal possession and transportation of an offensive instrument and carrying a knife.
An objection to the detention of the 51-year-old was brought by his lawyer, Alexandros Alexandrou, who developed a series of arguments arguing that his client should remain free.
As Mr. Alexandrou mentioned, the possibility of convicting the 51-year-old "is almost non-existent", while, according to him, there is no risk of evasion either. He explained that he is a person who is highly regarded by the people of the Paphos district.
The defense attorney added that the 51-year-old is a Cypriot citizen and has been living in Cyprus for the last 25 years. He is a monk, his place is the Monastery of Agios Neophytos and as his lawyer claimed, he has neither motivation nor reasons to leave Cyprus.
At the same time, he said that the 51-year-old has "very strong ties" with Cyprus.
For her part, the representative of the Prosecuting Authority requested the detention of the 51-year-old until he is brought before the Paphos Criminal Court due to the seriousness of the offense he faces.
The case is now expected to be brought before the Paphos Criminal Court on October 7, while until then the 51-year-old remains in custody.
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A number of burglaries and thefts took place last night, according to relevant information from the Police, in shops in Aradippou.
Around 3.40 in the morning today, information was received about a possible burglary at a kiosk, as well as a complaint about a possible burglary at a pharmacy, which are located in the area of Aradippou.
Members of the Police went to the area for examinations.
From the examinations carried out, it was found that the kiosk was burglarized, from where the cash register drawer was stolen, which contained money in coins, as well as an additional amount in coins from the cash desk.
The attempted burglary of the pharmacy was also found, where, however, the perpetrators did not succeed in entering the premises.
At the same time, information was received about a possible burglary in a store in the area of Aradippou.
From the examinations carried out by the members of the Police, the burglary of the store was found, from which, however, according to the owners of the premises, nothing seems to have been stolen.
During the examinations in the area, the members of the Police also found that an attempted burglary was committed in another pharmacy and another kiosk. The perpetrators did not succeed in entering the two premises, from which no property was stolen.
The Aradippou Police Station continues the examinations.
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Cy Mail
A fire which broke out in a car in the Nicosia suburb of Aglandjia is believed to have been started deliberately, the police said on Tuesday.
According to the police, the fire brigade was alerted to the fire at around 12.25pm on Monday, and the fire was brought under control within 25 minutes of the call.
However, the car suffered damage to its engine compartment and interior as a result of the fire.
A culprit has not yet been found.
