Elizabeth Georgiou
The creation of a specialized unit to combat organized crime, commonly referred to as the “Cypriot FBI,” had already been fully designed about ten years ago, according to former Assistant Chief of Police Christoforos Mavrommatis, who spoke in a new episode of the Kathimerini (K) podcast “UNCUT.”
He said the need for a dedicated directorate to fight organized crime had long been operationally necessary. However, the plan remained shelved for nearly a decade.
“These plans have been ready for ten years. I was personally involved. We had them prepared,” he said, adding that one of the main reasons the unit was never implemented was chronic understaffing in the police force.
Why did it remain on paper for ten years?
Mavrommatis said the delay was largely due to practical and administrative obstacles that prevented the creation of the new directorate.
One of the most significant problems, he explained, was staff shortages in the police, particularly after the 2013 economic crisis. According to him, there was a freeze on police hiring from 2013 to 2017, which he believes was a mistake given the importance of the service.
He added that a unit of this kind cannot operate effectively without adequate personnel.
When asked whether the unit would also require legislative support, he said an appropriate legal framework must be established so the police and other relevant agencies can operate within clear and lawful boundaries.
“Organized crime existed, exists, and will exist”
Discussing organized crime in Cyprus, Mavrommatis said it is a longstanding phenomenon driven primarily by profit and easy money.
He noted that drug trafficking remains one of the main forces behind many criminal activities and continues to be a central pillar of organized crime.
At the same time, he said the situation has not only persisted but has also evolved in both intensity and tactics, with criminal groups appearing more aggressive and less restrained than in the past.
From nighttime activity to action in broad daylight
Mavrommatis said that in the past organized crime had different characteristics and typically operated at night.
Today, however, the situation has changed significantly. Those involved have become bold enough to act even in broad daylight.
In his view, one reason for this shift is the change in the individuals now leading these criminal networks.
He said the sense of limits that once existed has largely disappeared, and the unwritten rules that once restrained violence are no longer respected.
Within this broader context, the former assistant police chief also spoke about a new culture shaping the behavior of organized crime, noting that external influences have contributed to a change in mentality.
According to him, those operating today do not take the public or the consequences of their actions into account.
Concern about organized crime entering politics
Mavrommatis also addressed the risk that organized crime could attempt to expand its influence beyond its traditional sphere of activity.
He warned that the most dangerous scenario would be infiltration into politics, because the consequences for public institutions and the state could be severe.
“If organized crime enters politics, that will be the end,” he said.
He clarified, however, that he is not claiming this has already happened.
