Cypriot police crack down on migrant smuggling rings near Nicosia

On October 27, 2026, Cypriot authorities arrested four individuals, including three Sudanese and one Syrian national, for their alleged involvement in a human smuggling ring. The suspects were intercepted near the Green Line in Nicosia after police were alerted to the presence of seven individuals who had illegally entered the Republic of Cyprus from the occupied territories. While the four suspects were detained under court warrants and subsequently remanded for eight days, the remaining three individuals were transferred to the Pournara migrant reception center. Reports indicate these arrests are part of an ongoing broader crackdown on smuggling operations in the region.

Following these arrests, local authorities intensified their efforts to combat irregular migration. In a separate legal proceeding, two other men, aged 22 and 26, were referred to the Criminal Court on charges related to the smuggling of eight migrants near Aglantzia. Meanwhile, national authorities continue to collaborate with Europol to profile the suspects and identify potential larger criminal networks operating within the country. In a broader context, the Cyprus Police and the Deputy Ministry of Migration reported that as of October 31, 2026, over 8,100 illegal residents have been repatriated this year, while 1,480 irregular arrivals have been recorded throughout 2026.