Armored truck robbery suspect sighted

Paphos police have tracked down the third suspect in last week’s cash-in-transit heist, days after he had managed to evade capture during a highway stop.

According to local media, 33-year-old Nigerian national Elochukwu Azubuike, who is wanted by police in connection with an armored truck robbery in Nicosia, was reportedly seen on Wednesday afternoon near a river in Kouklia, Paphos district.

Police told Knews that officers were searching for Azubuike’s whereabouts on Wednesday based on a tip, and law enforcement agents continued to comb the area on Thursday morning.

Additional media reports said police spotted the suspect hiding in a plantation in the Diarizos area, with reports saying Azubuike ran away as soon as he saw law enforcement agents gathering in the area.

Two other Nigerian nationals were remanded in custody in connection with a cash-in-transit robbery in Nicosia.

Reports said three black males on Monday targeted a G4S cash delivery van outside a bakery in Agios Dhometios, striking a guard on the arms with a metal rod and managing to grab a bag of money with €50,000 in cash.

Two hours later law enforcement officers flagged a westbound taxi on the Limassol-Paphos highway in the afternoon around 4pm, with three suspects jumping out and starting to flee, with two arrested and Azubuike managing to evade capture.

Police previously told media an investigation was taking place in Nicosia but also other locations.

Two years ago, Paphos became the focus in another investigation into a similar incident, when two hooded men attempted to rob a cash-in-transit van in broad daylight in Limassol.