Arrest warrant issued for suspected people smuggler

Police on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant for a 31-year-old man who is wanted on suspicion of trafficking migrants from Lebanon.

According to police, the suspect is being investigated for conspiracy to commit a crime, aiding and abetting illegal entry, transit, and illegal stay of a third-country national in Cyprus, and smuggling of migrants.

Reports said that a 22-year-old asylum seeker in Cyprus, and a compatriot gave the suspect €950 to help transport their relatives from Lebanon to Cyprus by boat.

As part of an agreement with Lebanon on the repatriation of migrants arriving in Cyprus, a boat with 88 people on board was chartered and departed to Beirut on August 22.

Among those people on the boats were relatives of the 22-year-old, who made the complaint.