In a coordinated operation aimed at dismantling a criminal organisation engaged in the illegal trafficking of migrants to Cyprus, five individuals have been apprehended in the district of Limassol on Wednesday morning. Further detentions are expected, as indicated in a statement released by the Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus. The five suspects have been placed in custody. 'As an effective response to the immigration challenge and a firm demonstration of a zero-tolerance stance on this matter, as repeatedly emphasized by the President of the Republic, a coordinated operation took place in the Limassol district this morning. This operation, following specific directives to all competent state agencies, aimed at dismantling a criminal network engaged in the unlawful trafficking of irregular migrants to Cyprus, " says the Presidency's announcement. During the operation, in which approximately 40 police officers participated, five Syrian nationals were located and arrested. They have been detained as members of a criminal organization involved in the trafficking of irregular migrants, with further arrests expected based on already issued warrants. According to the Presidency, the actions of this criminal organization over the past three months, were followed based on the analysis of specific information. In accordance with its international obligations, the Republic of Cyprus will continue to implement and reinforce measures aimed at managing migration flows and preventing them, the announcement says. The Presidency of the Republic further points out that within the framework of effectively addressing the issue of immigration, one of the key concerns remains tackling the trafficking networks that jeopardize the lives of irregular migrants attempting to enter Cyprus. "Towards this direction, a special team has been established under the instruction of the Minister of Interior to examine the review of policies concerning Syrian nationals who are already in the Republic of Cyprus and are involved in illegal migrant trafficking, with the goal of preventing further influxes," it is added. This specialized team consists of members from the Asylum Service, the Civil Registry and Migration Department, the Aliens and Immigration Service, as well as the Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance. Directives have been issued to all relevant agencies for the implementation of specific measures. The Presidency also notes that as a result of the actions taken and ongoing efforts, asylum applications have noticeably decreased in recent times.
Source: Cyprus News Agency