Operation “Zygos” was launched Wednesday, targeting nine suspected criminals, possibly evading justice, who are wanted by UK authorities and are believed to be hiding in Cyprus.
The campaign was launched in Nicosia by UK crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers, the UK’s Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and Cyprus Police.
The individuals concerned are eight men and a woman, who are wanted by UK law enforcement bodies for crimes including drug offences, fraud and serious sexual assault.
During an event here, photographs of the suspects were displayed, along with the information available, urging the public that might know something to pass on the information to Crimestoppers anonymously, through its website crimestoppers.org.cy or by calling 8000 55 11.
People in the UK can also pass on information anonymously via the Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
The names of the nine suspects are Hasan Akarcay, Martin Evans, Paul Lockwood, Timur Mehmet, Costas Sampson, Mehmet Salih, Wayne Smith, Juli Anne Skelding and Martin John Power.
British High Commissioner in Cyprus Matthew Kidd, while addressing the event, said the initiative was another step towards advancing the cooperation between UK law enforcement bodies and Cyprus Police.
He also read a message by Foreign Secretary William Hague, welcoming the initiative, while noting that this is the third campaign run by Crimestoppers and SOCA, after similar ones in Spain and Holland.
Cyprus Police Chief Michalis Papageorgiou noted from his part that competent authorities can only be effective in capturing fugitives within the framework of such cooperation schemes.
He added that the main objective for the Police through this initiative, is to turn Cyprus a safer country, both for its residents and its visitors.
SOCA Deputy Director Martin Molloy said that the operation will make things harder for fugitives who seek a safe haven in Cyprus.
From his part, Founder and Chair of Crimestoppers, Lord Ashcroft noted that 22 arrests are happening annually due to the information Crimestoppers receives from the public.
He added that while suspected criminals see Cyprus as a safe place to evade law enforcement, he believed these individuals would not be able to escape justice for much longer, with the help of the public.
Last year, he went on, 49 people were charged with murder and 72 people with serious sexual crimes, while drugs worth 28 mln euros were confiscated.
Since Crimestoppers began to operate in 1988, it received over a million phone calls. As a result, 115 thousand arrests of individuals were made and charges were pressed against them. Objects worth more that 123 mln euros were recovered, while drugs worth more that 232 mln were confiscated.
