Larnaca CID arrested four people on Wednesday in a coordinated operation across Larnaca and Nicosia districts on suspicion of organised crime, kidnapping, extortion, weapons offences and money laundering.
The suspects — a 44-year-old businessman from Larnaca, a 42-year-old businessman from Nicosia, a 49-year-old remand prisoner currently held in Central Prison, and a 45-year-old woman — are suspected of offences allegedly committed between 2021 and 2024 in Larnaca and the wider Larnaca district.
The charges they face span three broad areas.
On organised and conspiratorial crime, they are suspected of participation in a criminal organisation, participation in and acceptance of the commission of crimes, conspiracy to commit a felony, and conspiracy to commit a misdemeanour.
The violent and financial crime charges include kidnapping, abduction and unlawful deprivation of liberty for secret and unjust confinement, obtaining property by false pretences, inducing the execution of a document by false pretences, demanding property with menaces with intent to steal, blackmail, threat of violence, and threat.
On weapons, they face charges of unlawful possession and carrying of a Category B firearm and unlawful possession and carrying of explosives without an explosives inspector’s licence. All four also face a charge of money laundering.
Following the arrests, police searched a number of premises and seized exhibits.
All four suspects are expected to appear before Larnaca District Court tomorrow, June 11, where police will seek remand orders.
Larnaca CID is investigating.