A Greek connection?

With the investigation into the execution-style murder of football manager Stavros Demosthenous still unfolding, a new development is adding weight to growing concerns over organized crime in Cyprus.

Recap: Demosthenous, 41, was gunned down earlier this month while driving with his 18-year-old son on the Limassol highway. Police believe the perpetrators opened fire from a van that had been following their car in what investigators describe as a well-planned, contract-style hit. The murder sent shockwaves through Cyprus, prompting calls for tougher measures against organized crime.

Just days ago, Giannis Drosinis, head of Greece’s Homicide Department within the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, was in Cyprus, an unexpected visit that has drawn attention given the tense security climate and recent parliamentary discussions on the expansion of the Greek mafia’s influence on the island.

According to cross-referenced information from Athens, Drosinis, one of the most respected figures in Greece’s criminal investigation circles, was here shortly before Demosthenous’ murder. There is no evidence linking his visit to the killing, but in the current environment, the timing alone has raised eyebrows.

Sources suggest the Greek official’s trip was connected to a serious case requiring delicate handling, though details remain under wraps.

Drosinis, often described as a key figure in Greece’s version of the FBI, has a long track record of dismantling both Greek and international organized crime rings. Since taking over the homicide unit in May 2022, he has led investigations into multiple murders tied to the so-called “Greek mafia” and transnational criminal networks.

The Justice Minister, speaking after a closed-door parliamentary session on organized crime this week, said Cyprus is now facing what he called “imported criminality.”

“Organized crime will never be eradicated,” he said. “Today, many people come to Cyprus to commit crimes on behalf of others.”

He acknowledged that the nature of crime has evolved, with an increase in daylight attacks and the involvement of foreign groups operating on the island.

Authorities, meanwhile, are ramping up cooperation with regional partners and have already set up specialized police units to track and dismantle organized networks. The aim, officials say, is not total elimination, something no country has achieved, but containment and disruption.

The visit by Greece’s top homicide investigator underscores that Cyprus’ battle with organized crime is now part of a wider regional web, one that requires both vigilance and international coordination.