By Elizabeth Georgiou
The government is moving ahead with plans to create a Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, a new service that’s already being casually branded the “Cypriot FBI.” The announcement came from Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis after a meeting in Nicosia with Greece’s Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis.
Will Cyprus really copy the Greek model? And if so, why hasn’t the government revealed which departments will make up this new “super-directorate”?
The nickname may be catchy, but it also raises big questions: Will Cyprus really copy the Greek model? And if so, why hasn’t the government revealed which departments will make up this new “super-directorate”?
A model borrowed from Athens...maybe
Greece set up its own version of a federal-style crime unit about a year ago, and local media quickly dubbed it the “Greek FBI.” The structure pulls together some of the Hellenic Police’s most specialized branches: drug enforcement, human trafficking and smuggling, crimes against life and property, economic crimes, sports-related violence, and intelligence and special operations.
Cyprus says it will draw on that expertise, but it’s far from clear whether the same departments will be used or whether the structure will be tailored to Cyprus’ crime landscape and legal framework. Sources say nothing has been finalized yet, including which police divisions will be absorbed. Still, it’s widely expected that YKAN (the drug squad) and the Crime Prevention Department will form the backbone of the new service.
Built with Greek know-how
During Chrysochoidis’ visit, Hartsiotis highlighted the deepening cooperation between the two countries, saying the partnership is already producing “significant and tangible results.” He added that Cyprus has received all the information and technical guidance it needs to build a modern, effective directorate “based on Greek standards.”
As for when it will be up and running, Hartsiotis kept it vague but said the goal is “as soon as possible.” He also stressed that speed alone won’t cut it, the new service needs proper legislation, proper facilities, and, most importantly, highly capable staff.
Greek officials agree. According to Athens, the “secret sauce” behind their model is simple: pick the right people and anchor the whole structure in strong law. The Greek service was staffed with some of the top officers in the Hellenic Police and was created through a presidential decree, a speedier path that Cyprus may not be able to replicate due to legal differences.
One year of the “Greek FBI”
Chrysochoidis arrived in Cyprus with Lieutenant General Fotis Douitsis, head of Greece’s DAOE, while the Chief of the Hellenic Police was absent due to prior commitments. Speaking in Nicosia, the Greek minister underscored the global nature of organized crime, networks that “cooperate with criminal groups across the region,” and the responsibility of states “to eliminate and dismantle these groups within the limits of their operational capabilities.”
He pointed to the Greek unit’s track record: in its first year, it carried out 1,500 arrests and 550 detentions. Those numbers, he said, show the scale and effectiveness of the service.
He called Cyprus’ decision to launch its own version “an important step for the country’s security, the protection of citizens, and the fight against crimes like smuggling, economic offenses, and drug trafficking.”
The challenge ahead
But if Cyprus hopes to deliver similar results, it will have to get the basics right, choose the right people, build an incorruptible structure, and secure full institutional backing.
Whether the “Cypriot FBI” becomes a meaningful crime-fighting force and not just a catchy nickname will depend on how well this new directorate is built and whether it can truly strengthen public safety across the island.
