Supreme Court upholds search warrant in Cyprus prison-linked criminal network case

The Supreme Court of Cyprus has rejected an appeal by influencer Nataly Tziapoura, upholding a search warrant issued on June 25, 2025, for her apartment. This legal move is part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged organized crime network reportedly controlled from within the Central Prisons by prisoner Giorgos Christodoulou, known as Zavrantonas. Justice I. Ioannidis ruled that the police provided sufficient evidence to justify the search, dismissing the claim that the warrant was invalid.

Authorities allege that the criminal network involves drug trafficking, racketeering, and illegal gambling, activities that reportedly generated approximately one million euros over a six-month period. Investigators claim that Christodoulou coordinated these operations using a smartphone with a UK-registered SIM card to communicate with Tziapoura, who is accused of receiving, storing, and distributing the illicit funds. While a previous attempt to annul search warrants for two of Tziapoura's bank boxes was successful, this latest ruling confirms the legality of the home search warrant.

The case remains pending before the Criminal Court, with investigations into the corruption of prison guards and the scope of the criminal ring continuing.