Newsroom
Cyprus is turning to its neighbor for help in the fight against organized crime. This week, top Greek law enforcement officials are heading to the island to assist in setting up a new central agency aimed at cracking down on criminal networks.
According to Kathimerini's Yiannis Souliotis, Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis, Hellenic Police Chief Dimitris Mallios, and Fotis Ntuitsis, who leads Greece’s Combating Organized Crime unit, often called the “Greek FBI,” are visiting at the invitation of the Cypriot government. The new Cypriot agency will take cues from Greece’s specialized unit.
During their visit Thursday, the Greek delegation will meet with Justice and Public Order Minister Marios Hartsiotis and senior police officials to discuss intelligence sharing and operational cooperation. Topics on the table include cross-border criminal activity, the recent murder of Cypriot businessman Marios Demosthenous, and arrests in Greece linked to expatriate criminal groups from the former Soviet Union.
The move comes after a trip by the Cypriot police chief to Greece in October, highlighting the growing recognition that Cyprus needs external expertise to tackle organized crime effectively. With Greek guidance, authorities hope to build a stronger, more coordinated system capable of taking on sophisticated criminal networks that stretch across borders.
