First-ever four-way cooperation leads to multiple arrests
AN UNPRECEDENTED exchange of information between the British Bases, Cyprus police and authorities in the north has led to the arrest of a Bangladeshi man believed to be the mastermind behind a smuggling ring which brings illegal immigrants from Turkey to the free areas of Cyprus via the north.
For the first time, law enforcement officers across the island are working together to apprehend illegal immigrants who come to the island either to work or use Cyprus as a entry point to the EU mainland.
“We have worked closely before with the Cyprus police but there was always a certain amount of competition. Now we are very pleased to say it seems that we have seen the light and want to catch them together. The results are obvious,” said Bases spokesman Dennis Barnes.
The cooperation led to the arrest last Sunday of a Turkish Cypriot man and four Bangladeshis he was helping cross from the north to the south. The man was linked to the main trafficker who was responsible for bringing illegal immigrants from Turkey to the south.
Information given by him led to the arrest of a Bangladeshi believed to be the mastermind behind the people-smuggling ring. Police have collected valuable information from the alleged ringleader relating to the trafficking of people across the line, an informed source said yesterday.
“It was a four-agency pick up by the Cyprus police, Bases customs, Bases police and crossing officials in the north,” said the source. It is the first time there is free exchange of information between the authorities, which has led to unprecedented success in apprehending illegal immigrants in the last few weeks.
Chief Customs Officer for the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA), Arthur Dunlop said: “What’s happened in the last few days is part of an ongoing operation against the trafficking of people. It demonstrates the ability of all agencies to work together.”
Officers in the north are informing the SBA of people moving suspiciously on the Green Line. The SBA authorities in turn passes information on to Cyprus police force.
According to sources, there is an upsurge in Pakistani immigrants attempting to cross to the free areas through the Famagusta District.
Previously, law enforcement agencies saw Iraqis and Kurds crossing in small numbers, but now they are getting Pakistanis in their dozens.
Many of the Pakistanis do not even know where they are when they arrive in the north, and many more are confused when they realise that the island is divided, said one source.
Those coming here from Pakistan are either trying to use Cyprus as a staging post to get to EU countries on the continent, while a great number come to work in Cyprus.
