The government of Cyprus has started several new actions to fight crime. These actions aim to improve public safety and make sure people follow the rules. The plans include a new police team to fight organized crime, bigger fines for customs cheats, a new law to deport asylum seekers who commit crimes, and a successful operation against illegal bird trapping. Together, these steps show the government is taking a strong approach to law and justice.
A key part of the plan is a new police unit. It will focus on stopping organized crime groups. Cyprus’s Justice Minister, Marios Hartsiotis, agreed on this with Greece’s Justice Minister. Greece will help with technical knowledge. Minister Hartsiotis said that doing things correctly is more important than doing them quickly.
At the same time, parliament passed a new deportation law. It gives the government more power to send asylum seekers away if they are convicted of serious crimes. The law makes the process faster. Now, a person has only ten days to appeal. This law has caused a lot of discussion. Some politicians say it is necessary for safety. Others worry it could hurt human rights.
The government has also taken direct action. At Larnaca airport, a person received a €20,000 fine for not declaring expensive luxury items. In another case, a two-month operation against illegal bird trapping ended with 55 convictions. Fines totaled almost €240,000, and over 1,200 birds were set free.
These changes show Cyprus is becoming stricter on law enforcement. The government wants to solve different problems, from crime and border control to protecting the environment. Some people will watch carefully to see if these new rules are both effective and fair.