The government of Cyprus has announced a wide range of new actions to fight different types of crime. These steps aim to improve public safety and make sure people follow the rules. The plans include creating a new police unit for organized crime, introducing very high fines for customs fraud, passing a strict law to deport criminal asylum seekers, and finishing a large operation against illegal bird hunting. Together, these moves show the government is taking a strong and varied approach to law and order.
A key part of the plan is a new special unit within the Cyprus Police. Its goal will be to break up organized crime groups. This idea was confirmed during a high-level meeting in Nicosia between the Justice Ministers of Cyprus and Greece. The new unit will be set up with help from Greece, using the model of a similar successful unit there. The Cypriot Justice Minister, Marios Hartsiotis, explained that such changes take time, saying, “Sometimes the most important thing is not the timing, but getting things done properly.”
At the same time, parliament passed a new and debated law. It gives the government more power to deport asylum seekers who are found guilty of serious crimes. The law makes the process faster, giving individuals only ten days to appeal before they lose their protected status and face deportation. This decision has caused strong political disagreement. Some politicians support it as necessary for public security, while others worry it could violate human rights.
Recent enforcement actions have also shown results. At Larnaca airport, a citizen was fined €20,000 for trying to avoid customs with luxury goods. In an environmental success, a two-month operation against illegal bird trapping ended with 55 convictions and large fines. Authorities also seized thousands of traps and freed over 1,200 birds.
Overall, these measures mark a clear move toward stricter law enforcement in Cyprus. The government appears focused on dealing with specific crimes and wider system problems, from border control to environmental protection. While some of these policies will continue to be debated, the government's message is clear: it is determined to enforce the law more strictly in many areas of society.