Police arrest fifth suspect linked to Larnaca criminal organisation

By Eleni Panayiotou

Police have arrested a 49-year-old Greek Cypriot man in connection with an ongoing investigation into an alleged criminal organisation operating in the Larnaca district, authorities said on Monday.

The suspect was arrested by officers from Famagusta CID on suspicion of interfering with judicial proceedings linked to a separate case being investigated by Larnaca CID.

In a later development, police said the case file relating to the alleged interference with a police investigation had been forwarded to the Legal Service for instructions.

The Legal Service said criminal proceedings be initiated against both the 49-year-old suspect and a 51-year-old man who reportedly acted as an intermediary.

Police said a case was expected to be filed before the Famagusta District Court later on Monday.

The 49-year-old is the brother of a 44-year-old Larnaca businessman who is already in custody.

Four suspects – three men aged 44, 42 and 49, and a 45-year-old woman – were arrested last Wednesday during a coordinated operation involving Larnaca CID and other police departments and units.

The investigation concerns a series of alleged offences committed in Larnaca and the wider district between 2021 and 2024.

According to police, the 44-year-old businessman and the newly arrested 49-year-old face investigation for 14 offences, including participation in a criminal organisation, conspiracy to commit a felony, conspiracy to commit a misdemeanour, kidnapping and unlawful deprivation of liberty, obtaining property through false representations, extortion, threats of violence, illegal possession and transportation of a Category B firearm, illegal possession and transportation of explosives without a permit, and money laundering.

The 42-year-old suspect is being investigated for 11 offences, including participation in a criminal organisation, conspiracy offences, extortion, threats, money laundering and breaches of legislation governing large cash transactions.

According to testimony presented before the court, the complainant and his brother-in-law sold two properties in Pyla to a company directed by the 42-year-old businessman from Nicosia on December 1, 2021.

Each seller reportedly received €250,000 upon signing the contracts.

The court also heard allegations that, in 2022, two of the suspects persuaded the complainant to become a partner in a betting agency in Larnaca, allegedly obtaining €25,000 in cash from him.

The complainant further alleged that he had met the 45-year-old woman around 2020 and that she had expressed a desire to move to Greece with him.

According to the complaint, the businessman from Larnaca and another suspect later became aware of the relationship and claimed they could facilitate a romantic relationship between the pair.

Police claim that over a two-year period the suspects extracted approximately €100,000 from the complainant through a combination of deception and threats.

The complainant alleged that after refusing a request to provide the woman with an additional €5,000, an unidentified person fired a shot outside his home one week later.

The following day, he reportedly found a bullet outside the property and handed it over to police.

Police requested eight-day detention orders for the 44-year-old, the 49-year-old and the 45-year-old woman. Defence lawyers objected to the application, but the court approved the request.

A separate six-day detention order was issued for the 42-year-old suspect.