Surge in Criminal Activities Rocks Cyprus
In a startling revelation, the final draft of an expert research report, drawing on Interpol data, has shed light on the burgeoning criminal underworld in Cyprus. The report, part of the ‘Global Initiative’ by an NGO based in Geneva, underscores Cyprus as the operational base for over ten criminal organizations deeply involved in a spectrum of illicit activities.
These activities, as outlined in the report, include drug trafficking, smuggling tobacco products, extortion and blackmail, illegal betting, and fixing football matches. The second installment of the Global Criminality Indicator, conducted last November, paints a grim picture of the island nation’s struggle with extreme criminality.
Recent events have only served to confirm these findings. As reported by Philenews, Cyprus has been rocked by a series of high-profile crimes, including assassinations in broad daylight, arson attacks, bombings, and underworld killings. The most recent assassination took place on a busy road in Anthoupoli, shockingly close to a large shopping mall.
The escalation of violence has been dramatic, with public areas and daytime settings becoming stages for brazen attacks. The targeting of justice system officials, particularly public prosecutors, marks a chilling turn in the tactics employed by these criminal groups. A high-ranking public official has reportedly been on a hit list since late last year, with plans orchestrated from within the Central Prisons.
Security sources suggest a shift in the underworld dynamics over the past five months. With no clear ‘boss’ at the helm, crime groups vie for dominance, causing societal unrest and signaling potential for further violence. The hierarchy within these organizations is in flux, with alliances forming and dissolving as financial stakes from illegal activities drive power struggles.
The ‘Special Initiative’, comprising 500 experts and financially backed by the European Union and the United States, has been closely monitoring these developments. Their findings indicate that organized crime extends its reach beyond coastal nightclubs to inland areas, with human trafficking being the predominant crime due to Cyprus’s strategic location.
Members of these criminal organizations are predominantly foreign nationals from the Caucasus regions, Eastern Europe, and Asia. They are implicated in property crimes, money laundering, and drug trafficking through occupied territories of Cyprus. Moreover, their collusion with local groups in corrupting public officials has raised alarms over government contract tenders.
In just 101 days of 2024, Cyprus has witnessed 55 arsons and bomb attacks—an alarming rate of one every 44 hours. This uptick in violence underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts to combat the rise in organized crime that threatens the safety and stability of Cyprus.
