Organised crime in Cyprus is both imported and evolving, stated Minister of Justice and Public Order Marios Hartsiotis on Wednesday, following a closed-door meeting of the Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee. The meeting, which also involved Police Chief Themistoklis Arnaouti, was convened in response to the recent murder of Stavros Demosthenous in Limassol.
The Minister informed committee members that investigations are in full progress and expressed hope for justice. “We hope to clarify this heinous crime and bring the guilty parties to justice,” he said. When asked if he was optimistic about the investigation, he confirmed that substantial evidence has already been gathered.
Hartsiotis also briefed the committee on current and upcoming measures being taken to combat organised crime. He acknowledged that such crime has always existed and will likely continue, evolving in methods and increasingly being imported, an issue not unique to Cyprus.
'Foreign elements'
“Organised crime existed, exists, and will continue to exist. It evolves in terms of the methods used. It is now imported, and it will never be completely eradicated,” he stated. Nevertheless, he emphasised the state's responsibility to implement every available measure to limit its spread as much as possible.
On how organised crime has evolved, Hartsiotis explained that it used to be “exclusively Cypriot,” but today, individuals come to Cyprus to commit crimes on behalf of others, either within the island or abroad. He noted a shift in the timing of crimes, with many now occurring in broad daylight, citing even an armed robbery at the Louvre Museum as an example of the boldness of such actions.
The Minister highlighted a link between increased criminality and “foreign elements,” pointing to a significant percentage of foreign nationals among those convicted. He stressed the need for authorities to map and monitor these groups closely. However, he reassured that Cyprus is not in “uncharted waters,” citing significant progress in recent years. Special police units have been created to deal exclusively with organised crime, and their work includes detailed mapping of criminal networks.
Property and cash seized
He also referred to a new team focusing on non-criminal indicators, monitoring individuals and companies whose lifestyles may not match their declared income. Results have already shown impact: assets worth €25 million in cryptocurrency have been frozen, alongside €1.2 million in cash, and properties including homes, hotels, jewellery, and even religious icons, with vehicle seizures totalling €1.1 million. These outcomes stemmed from inter-agency cooperation, including with MOKAS, the Police, the Intelligence Service, the Tax Department, Customs, and local authorities.
“We’re not overly optimistic that drugs and mobile phones will be completely eliminated, but we are taking all necessary measures to reduce their use,” said the Minister, noting that many of the Ministry’s and Police’s actions are not publicly disclosed.
Addressing public concerns about safety, he acknowledged that more murders linked to organised crime had occurred in previous years. He emphasised efforts to strengthen the sense of security, referencing coordinated urban patrols by units such as MMAD and ZITA, particularly in central Nicosia, Limassol, and Larnaca.
Responding to concerns about criminal coordination from within prison, Hartsiotis admitted that mobile phones and drugs remain ongoing issues at the Central Prisons. He clarified that while mobile phones facilitate criminal organisation, their complete removal will not entirely prevent such coordination. He cited measures already in place such as frequent raids, confiscations, criminalisation of mobile possession for both visitors and staff, and plans for signal jamming and camera upgrades.
Political reactions
DISY MP Nikos Georgiou confirmed that both the Justice Minister and Police Chief expressed confidence in solving the recent murder case. He also highlighted their proactive steps to combat organised crime by targeting its funding sources, including cooperation with the Tax Department, MOKAS, and international partners.
“Organised crime is growing in our country and threatens public safety, social cohesion, and the economy,” Georgiou warned. He called for collaboration between the executive and legislative branches, announcing upcoming legislation on surveillance. The proposed law would allow real-time phone monitoring and recordings as admissible court evidence for arrests and prosecutions.
He also co-sponsored, along with AKEL MP Marina Nikolaou, a bill that would classify the physical assault of public officials during duty as a specific criminal offence. In addition, Georgiou proposed amendments to police regulations, empowering the Chief of Police to designate certain duties as “high risk,” aiming to modernise and streamline police operations.
Crime in broad daylight
AKEL MP Andreas Pasiourtides raised three key concerns: the boldness of organised crime, alleged criminal coordination from within prisons, and the growing public sense of insecurity. He argued that recent incidents, including crimes committed in daylight and in central locations like hotels and main roads, were “not normal for a state governed by law.”
He added that while the Justice Minister and Police Chief tried to ease concerns, citizens remain uneasy. “We are here to support efforts to strengthen law enforcement, but those responsible must stay ahead of the criminals,” he said, adding that prevention, not just suppression, is vital.
ELAM MP Sotiris Ioannou distinguished between organised crime and crimes linked to migration. He reiterated ELAM’s 2022 proposal to deport any migrant convicted of criminal offences and confirmed this would be included in upcoming refugee legislation. He also voiced support for granting hazard pay to frontline security forces and improving their insurance coverage.
Nikos Loizides, President of the police union branch 'Isotita', stated that effective combat against organised crime requires three things: legal use of audio recordings as evidence, creation of a high-security prison in Menogeia, and an increase in frontline police personnel from 800 to 2,000. He criticised the Justice Ministry and Police Headquarters for refusing to engage in dialogue over recognising dangerous duties, calling it a “disavowal of responsibility” in reorganising the force.