Two men, aged 27 and 35, were sentenced to 15 and nine years in prison for drug trafficking, drug possession, and money laundering. The 35-year-old’s property worth €48,900 was also seized. The crime took place on July 31, 2023, when 27kgs of cannabis and 12kgs of cocaine were seized during a raid by the Paphos drug squad.
A global investigation over the past four years points to Cyprus as a hub for criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking, smuggling tobacco products, extortion, illegal betting, and fixing football matches. The report, based on Interpol data, highlights a rise in extreme criminality in Cyprus, with recent assassinations, arson attacks, bombings, and underworld killings. Criminal organizations in Cyprus are mostly foreign and involved in crimes against property, money laundering, drug trafficking, and bribing public officials. In 2024, there were 55 arsons and bomb attacks reported in 101 days.
The European Parliament approved rules to ban the sale, import, and export of goods made using forced labor in the EU. The move was driven by concerns about human rights abuses in the Chinese province of Xinjiang. If a product is found to have been made using forced labor, it will not be allowed to be sold in the EU market, and shipments will be intercepted at the borders. The law still needs approval from EU countries to enter into force, with a three-year deadline for implementation.
The House interior committee called on the government to urgently and effectively manage the migration issue, focusing on upgrading infrastructure for reception centers and accommodation for asylum seekers, improving the procedures for examining asylum applications, and providing access to legal representation for unaccompanied minors. The government should also adopt procedures to ensure humane living conditions in reception centers and suppress incidences of crime in and around these centers.
The European Parliament has passed new legislation on migration and asylum, after more than ten years in the making. The legislation aims to provide a consistent framework across all Member States, secure borders, protect human rights, and combat trafficking. The package also addresses issues like secondary movements, external borders, and crises. While it won’t solve all issues overnight, it represents a significant step forward. The focus now is on implementing the agreements and improving returns for those who do not qualify for protection.
The European Union is aiming to reach a migration agreement with Lebanon, as stated by Margaritis Schinas, the Vice-President of the European Commission. This follows successful agreements with Egypt and Tunisia. Schinas emphasized the need for preparation and stabilization of the agreement’s parameters but expressed optimism about its feasibility. He also mentioned the ongoing process for re-evaluating certain areas in Syria as safe, a competence of the European Asylum Agency, and highlighted Cyprus’s significant success in increasing returns of migrants. The Cypriot Minister of Interior, Konstantinos Ioannou, discussed the geopolitical risks in the region, the role of the European Asylum Agency in assessing safety in Syria, and the efforts to combat human trafficking networks, including the establishment of a special police unit in Cyprus. The meeting in Nicosia also included other Cypriot ministers and deputy ministers.
Cyprus has been described by European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas as “emerging as a European champion of returns” of migrants. Schinas highlighted the complexity and difficulty of managing migration in Cyprus but affirmed the EU’s unwavering support for the country in this regard. Despite the positive outlook from Schinas, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou expressed concerns over the “suffocating pressure” from the influx of Syrian migrants arriving by sea, although he noted that the flow of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa has been largely limited. Ioannou has proposed a plan to the European Union to declare parts of Syria safe for the return of migrants, a plan that has received support from the Austrian government and, despite a misunderstanding, was initially thought to have the backing of the Swedish government. Ioannou also mentioned the challenges posed by organized trafficking rings and the steps taken to combat them, including the establishment of a special police unit. Additionally, he referred to an agreement signed between the EU and Egypt aimed at addressing the root causes of irregular migration and enhancing legal immigration pathways. Schinas mentioned the EU’s efforts to pressure airlines involved in irregular migration and the provision of over €250 million in funding for Cyprus’ immigration infrastructure.
Cyprus is reporting a decrease in human sex trafficking, but stakeholders claim police investigations are inadequate. Androula Christophidou Henriques, founder of Cyprus Stop Trafficking NGO, criticizes the current trafficking department’s lack of initiative. Between 2019 and 2022, Cyprus had 98 trafficking victims, with 33 cases related to sexual exploitation. The closure of cabarets in 2010 and COVID-19 restrictions have reduced sex trafficking activities, according to Henriques. Rita Superman, a Disy MP and former head of the police anti-trafficking department, believes the actual number of trafficking cases is higher than reported. The interior ministry plans to intensify inspections to prevent trafficking. Concerns about underreporting and institutional racism in handling trafficking cases have been raised by Dr. Nasia Hadjigeorgiou, who notes low prosecution numbers and inadequate victim interviews. Police cooperation between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is minimal, affecting victim support. The US Department of State’s 2023 report places Cyprus in Tier 1 for compliance with trafficking standards but notes failures in victim referral and identification. The report also highlights the vulnerability of certain groups to trafficking and the government’s shortcomings in convicting traffickers and compensating victims. Efforts to combat human sexual trafficking in Cyprus intensified after the 2010 European Court of Human Rights decision in the case of Oxana Rantseva, leading to criminalization of human trafficking in Cyprus and Russia, and changes to Cypriot visa rules.
The Permanent Criminal Court of Limassol sentenced a 34-year-old defendant to 12 years in prison for possession and intent to supply cocaine, following his admission to the charges. This decision was related to the discovery and seizure of 8 kilograms of cocaine on October 13, 2023, at his residence in Mouttagiaka. The defendant, who was involved in drug trafficking with a 35-year-old accomplice, was caught during a CID operation while distributing cocaine. In addition to cocaine, a kilogram of cannabis, precision scales, money, a mobile phone, eleven bullets, and two smoke grenades were seized. The estimated value of the seized cocaine is approximately one million euros. The 34-year-old has been enrolled in the witness protection program and will testify against his accomplice and godfather.
Cyprus has been unsuccessful in establishing itself in the eastern Mediterranean geopolitical sphere and has been considered too small to be taken seriously by allies and neighbors. However, recent tensions in the Middle East and the need for increased security have created an opportunity for Cyprus to change this perception. Cyprus lacks the means to defend its own rights, such as natural resources and commercial interests, and is unable to prevent migrant traffickers from diverting refugees to its shores. Additionally, Cyprus-flagged vessels face risks in areas of conflict. Developing a navy could enhance maritime academies and provide a means for Cyprus to protect its interests. As Europe seeks military autonomy and Turkey’s military power remains unchallenged, Cyprus should consider joining a joint European navy or military group. The importance of energy resources, particularly natural gas, gives Cyprus the incentive to establish a naval presence to reassure commercial partners of its ability to protect its sovereign rights and resources.