Filenews 26 September 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, twelve persons were arrested for various offenses, such as assault, carrying knives, as well as driving under the influence of alcohol.
As part of these operations, during the night, 815 vehicles were stopped for inspection and 1,052 persons in them 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, 362 complaints were made, concerning various traffic violations, while twelve investigated cases of traffic violations also emerged. As part of the police examinations, ten vehicles were detained.
Of the complaints made about traffic violations, 128 complaints concerned exceeding the speed limit. There were 23 complaints about driving under the influence of alcohol, while one case of driving under the influence of drugs arose. For driving under the influence of alcohol, 307 vehicle driver checks were carried out, while for driving under the influence of drugs, six driver checks were carried out.
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 case of poaching is being investigated in the province of Paphos by the Police, who proceeded to arrest two persons, aged 23 and 21. During the investigations carried out, the premises of the two suspects were also found in the residence, killed wild birds, a hunting firearm, as well as other evidence related to the poaching case.
Specifically, members of the Poaching Squad, MMAD, in cooperation with other members of the Police, carried out an operation yesterday in the province of Paphos, following information regarding poaching. Around 11.00 in the evening, the members of the Police spotted a car being driven into a field, with the driver chasing a hare with the vehicle.
In the attempt of the members of the Police to stop the vehicle for a check, its driver developed speed to escape. However, the members of the Police managed to stop the vehicle and subjected the three people on it to a check. They are a 23-year-old, a 21-year-old and a 19-year-old.
In a search of the vehicle, 26 full double-barreled shotgun cartridges were found, as well as three used double-barrelled and single-barrelled shotgun cartridges. Searches followed, during which the home and premises of the 23-year-old and 21-year-old were located and confiscated:
- Number of wild birds killed
- Three nylon bags containing a quantity of black meat, with tests to determine the type of animal from which it comes continue
- A double-barreled shotgun
- An iron trap, believed to be used to trap animals
- An improvised system for reproducing mimetic bird sounds
- 15 plastic pesticide containers, with a capacity of one liter
- Two metal detectors
- An electric current discharge device
Also, two mobile phones of the two suspects were located and detained for examination, in which there appear to be photo and video files, believed to be related to poaching.
The 23-year-old and 21-year-old were arrested by the members of the Police and taken into custody for the purpose of investigating the case. The 19-year-old was released, after no evidence emerged against her in relation to the poaching case.
The Polis Chrysochous Police Station continues the examinations.
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The investigations of the Police in Paphos continue at an intensive pace for the serious incidents caused on Wednesday afternoon in the center of Paphos, between a group of young foreigners. Several foreigners have already been brought to the Paphos Police Department, while the study of visual material that has been secured to identify those involved in the incident continues in order to arrest the participants and clarify the causes of the violent incident.
As can be seen from the exclusive images of PafosNet, the fierce fight literally took place in the middle of the street, outside a fast food restaurant on the central Evagoras Pallikaridi Avenue.
The young people were punched, threw chairs and insulted, as a result of which there was a disturbance in this busy area for a long time, while neighbors, shopkeepers and passing motorists watched in fear.
With the arrival of the Police, the people involved rushed to disappear and the investigations continue.
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A 33-year-old man, who is wanted by the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was arrested by members of the Police at Larnaca airport, upon his arrival in Cyprus, in connection with a case of attempted murder. The 33-year-old was taken into custody for the purpose of starting the judicial process for his extradition to the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued an arrest warrant against the 33-year-old, while through Interpol they issued a red notice, placing his details on the basis of wanted persons. According to the data mentioned in the red notice, the attempted murder, as well as the crime of conspiracy to commit a felony, were committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the year 2019.
The 33-year-old arrived yesterday afternoon at Larnaca airport, on a flight from a foreign country. During the passport control by a member of the Police, at the arrivals area, it was found that he was wanted by the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A temporary arrest warrant was issued against the 33-year-old, on the basis of which he was arrested by the members of the Police and taken into custody.
TAE Larnaca continues the exams.
In the engine room of the building where the goldsmith's shop is housed, on Ellados Street in Limassol, members of the Police located and arrested a 40-year-old Greek Cypriot in the act, shortly before midnight yesterday. The 40-year-old returned to the same goldsmith's shop, a few days after the first burglary, having this time managed to drill a hole in a metal partition of the engine room and gain access to the premises. This is a person known to the authorities, who was brought before the Limassol Court today, which approved his detention for a period of seven days.
As our website is informed, around 11:30 last night, members of the Limassol OPE went to a goldsmith after information that a burglar was inside the premises. The owner of the goldsmith arrived at the scene at the same time, who pointed out to the police an iron door that led to the engine room of the elevator and was connected to the main building. During the investigation, the police located the 40-year-old hiding at the scene and proceeded to arrest him.
According to the same information, when the police showed their police IDs to the 40-year-old and told him that he was being arrested for illegal entry, he allegedly replied: "Oh my gosh". A bag was found in his possession, in which there were, among other things, a battery shimmer, four cutting discs, two batteries, metal cutting scissors, a cigarette butt and a cutter. The items were received as evidence and the 40-year-old was informed that he was also under arrest for illegal possession of burglary tools.
During the search, various gold and silver objects were also found, including gold shavings, as well as two 14 and 18 carat gold authenticity tests. The value of the items has not yet been calculated.
Part of the property was identified by the owner of the jewellery store as objects stolen during the burglary of the premises, for which he had been reported to the Police on September 18.
The goldsmith's shop, according to the complaint, has been closed for the last six years. From the on-site examinations carried out as part of the investigation of the first burglary, it was found that the entrance to the premises was achieved after the protective iron roller shutter was violated, while the perpetrator also broke the glass of the door.
At the same time, it was found that the perpetrator cut a metal partition in the engine room, creating a hole that led to the interior of the goldsmith's shop.
The perpetrator's movements were recorded by closed surveillance circuits, with him appearing to enter the goldsmith's shop and then exit carrying objects. When questioned orally, he denied guilt.
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After examinations, the Famagusta Traffic Police located the vehicle and the driver who allegedly dragged a couple of tourists from Britain, 28 and 29 years old, in the early hours of Sunday and then left the scene.
The vehicle, according to information from Filenews, belongs to 19 from Bulgaria, who when approached by police showed erratic behavior. The young man was examined by a psychiatrist and a decree was issued for his compulsory hospitalization at Athalassa Hospital. When he is discharged, he is expected to be questioned and all the procedures for his criminal prosecution will be initiated.
It is recalled that the two young people were returning on foot to the accommodation in which they are staying, after having fun in a nightclub in the Pernera area in Paralimni. Around 4 in the morning, as they were walking on a dirt road on Vrysoudion Street in the direction of the Agia Triada roundabout, a car dragged them. Immediately after the collision, the driver of the vehicle developed speed and left the scene.
An ambulance was called to the scene, which transported the injured to the General Hospital of Famagusta. The 28-year-old received first aid and was discharged. More serious is the condition of the 29-year-old, who was intubated after suffering a severe craniocerebral injury. According to the latest information from the Police, his health condition has stabilized and he continues to be treated, out of danger, at the Famagusta Hospital in Paralimni.
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The 16-year-old electric scooter driver, who was seriously injured in a car accident in Aglantzia on August 7, 2026, lost the battle.
The accident occurred in the early hours of August 7, when a vehicle moving from Georgiou Griva Digeni Avenue to Larnakos Avenue, in Aglantzia, under circumstances that are being investigated, hit and dragged a personal mobility device in front, which was driven by 16-year-old Aris Lambrou Papacharalambous.
The minor was seriously injured in the collision and was taken to Nicosia General Hospital, where he underwent surgery and was hospitalized in critical condition.
The vehicle involved was located a little later in a different place from the one in the collision. In a final alcohol test subjected to a 27-year-old man, who, according to the data so far, was allegedly the driver of the vehicle, he was found positive with a final result of 73μg%, instead of 22μg%, which is the maximum limit by the Law. The 27-year-old was arrested for a flagrante delicto.
The 27-year-old's wife was then arrested, who allegedly had given false information to the Police. Specifically, she claimed that she was the one driving the vehicle with which the 16-year-old collided.
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The Police recommends caution to the public, as the fraud with false phone messages for the payment of alleged out-of-court fines continues.
According to a complaint submitted yesterday to the Nicosia Police Department by a 52-year-old man, he received a telephone message regarding an allegedly unpaid out-of-court fine, related to traffic violations.
The 52-year-old followed an electronic link - link, which was mentioned in the message and was led to a website which falsely presented itself as a website of the Cyprus Police. On the website, the 52-year-old entered his bank card details, in order to repay the alleged out-of-court fine.
The 52-year-old then received a notification from the bank in which he maintains an account that his account was debited with a payment of €2,326.
The case is being investigated by the Financial Crime Investigation Unit, of the Nicosia Police Department.
On the occasion of this new case of fraud and extortion, the Police once again informs the public that they never communicate with citizens in this way or through any other communication platform to call on citizens to pay any fines or for any other reason.
Public caution is advised, especially when receiving messages containing electronic links. As a protection measure, it is recommended that the public avoid following such electronic links and that they never report or register their personal and bank details on unknown websites.
Finally, in order to verify any messages they receive, citizens are urged to contact the mentioned Organizations, through notified communication channels.
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A case for an amount of approximately €94,000 that the Customs Department had charged to the Cyprus Ports Authority for a car that had left a temporary warehouse in the port of Limassol without, according to the Department, completing the required customs procedure, is returning to the Administrative Court, as the Administrative Court of Appeal ruled that the first instance decision was not sufficiently reasoned.
The Customs Department had appealed against the decision of the Administrative Court, which in 2022 had annulled the imputation following an appeal by the Ports Authority, while the Ports Authority filed a cross-appeal, challenging, among other things, the finding that there was an omission on its part and raising the issue of the destruction of documents approved by the Customs Department itself. At the same time, it claimed that the pleas for annulment raised at first instance were wrongly examined, in particular alleging a lack of investigation into the facts of the delivery of the vehicle in question.
The Administrative Court of Appeal, by decision dated September 25, 2026, upheld the appeal of the Customs Department as to the sole ground raised and the cross-appeal of the Ports Authority as to its first and, in part, its third ground. At the same time, it set aside the first instance decision in its entirety and referred the case before another Judge of the Administrative Court.
The case concerns a car that had arrived at the port of Limassol and was placed in the private temporary warehouse of the Port Authority in 2005. In 2009, the Customs Department asked the Authority for evidence of the customs settlement of the car. The Authority replied that this had been handed over to a specific person and attached relevant documents.
In 2013, the Port Authority requested approval from the Customs Department for the withdrawal and destruction of the Ship Import Files and the Export Office Forms for the year 2005. The Senior Customs Officer approved the destruction of the original documents, which, as the Customs Department said, was done "by mistake".
An investigation by the Customs Department followed, which concluded that the car had been delivered without prior written approval or permission and without being given a customs destination.
In 2017, the Customs Department issued an imputation totalling €94,410.95, before statutory interest. The amount concerned €74,494.34 in excise taxes, €11,333.79 in VAT and €8,582.82 as a financial charge.
During the examination of the request for review, testimonies were taken, including from officials of the Port Authority, who argued that the delivery of the car was legal and justified. The person named as the recipient, however, stated that he never owned the car and that he never received it from the port of Limassol.
The Administrative Court of Appeal held that the Court of First Instance had not recorded the necessary judicial thought for its main findings. As he states, "it was not reflected in the first instance decision [...] his judicial reasoning, which is necessary for the second instance review", both in relation to the finding of "omission" of the Ports Authority and in relation to whether it was "deliberate".
In particular, the Court of Appeal notes that the Court of First Instance did not adequately examine the Port Authority's argument that in 2013 the Customs Department had given approval for the destruction of the original documents. As stated in the decision, it was not examined whether this "possibly depriving the Respondent/Counter-Appellant of producing such, if any" affected the issue of the burden of proof for the existence of omission.
At the same time, the Court of Appeal considered that it should be examined whether, in relation to the letter of the Port Authority in 2009, "all the information requested by it at the time was provided or not", as well as whether it was permissible from the outset to re-examine and enforce the requirement, taking into account the approval for the destruction of the documents and the time that had elapsed.
The Court of Appeal also held that there was insufficient justification for the first-instance finding that the omission was not intentional, as, as it states, there was a lack of "reasoning evidence of engagement and weighing of the main arguments" of the two sides, including the testimony of the person who had been indicated as the recipient of the car.
Therefore, the first instance decision was set aside in its entirety and the case returns before another Judge of the Administrative Court for a new decision on the appeal of the Ports Authority.
