Five more people have been arrested in connection with an investigation into an alleged conspiracy to commit murder and participation in a criminal organisation, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to eight.
The latest arrests were made in the Paphos district on Friday as part of an ongoing investigation by a Special Investigation Team at Cyprus Police Headquarters.
The investigation is being conducted in cooperation with police authorities in other countries and Europol.
Five arrests in Paphos
Following an assessment of information and evidence gathered during the investigation, police said testimony had emerged against five people and arrest warrants were subsequently obtained.
The suspects are two 22-year-olds, a 21-year-old, a 25-year-old and a 28-year-old.
During a coordinated police operation in the Paphos district on Friday, officers stopped a vehicle carrying the five suspects.
They were arrested under court warrants to facilitate the investigation.
Weapons and other items seized
During a search of the vehicle, police found and seized a pistol, two knives, gloves, masks and three mobile phones.
A search was also carried out at the accommodation of the suspects in Paphos.
Police said a further eight mobile phones, $1,400 in cash, and a number of documents, notes and other evidence were found and seized.
The five suspects were taken into custody and are expected to appear before a court on Saturday, where police will seek detention orders.
Information from Denmark via Europol
The investigation began after information was passed to Cyprus Police through Europol by the Danish authorities.
The information concerned alleged plans for murders to be carried out in Cyprus in exchange for payment.
Following the investigation and assessment of the information, police carried out an operation in the Larnaca and Famagusta districts.
Three people, aged 33, 34 and 35, were arrested under court warrants to facilitate the investigation.
The three are currently being held under eight-day detention orders.
The investigation is continuing under the direction of the Special Investigation Team at Cyprus Police Headquarters, in cooperation with the relevant European authorities.
The allegations have not been tested in court and the suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Source: CNA
