Newsroom
A 66-year-old man was arrested late last night in the Paphos district after being caught during an alleged illegal hunting incident that escalated into a serious confrontation with game wardens.
Officers from the Game and Fauna Service were carrying out a routine patrol at around 8:20 p.m. in the area of Acheleia village when they heard gunshots coming from nearby fields. After searching the area, they discovered two individuals: one was firing a flobert-type firearm, while the other was using a flashlight to illuminate the surroundings.
As a shot was fired, the wardens observed a wild bird fall from a tree, confirming their suspicions of illegal hunting activity. When they attempted to approach and check the two men, one of the suspects allegedly aimed the firearm at the wardens and threatened them. Both men then attempted to flee the scene.
The wardens managed to detain one of the suspects, a 66-year-old man, while the second individual escaped and remains at large.
A subsequent search found the arrested man in possession of 18 freshly killed wood pigeons. At the shooting location, officers also recovered another freshly killed bird, two live flobert cartridges, and four spent cartridges.
The suspect was taken into custody for offences committed in the act, and police officers were called to the scene to assist with the investigation. The case has since been handed over to the Paphos Criminal Investigation Department for further inquiries.
