Cyprus creates organised crime directorate with Greek expertise
The government has decided to establish a Directorate for Combating Organised Crime, Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis announced after meeting Greek Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis in Nicosia.
The new unit, already dubbed the “Cypriot FBI” in public discourse, will draw heavily on the Greek model. Greece set up its own Directorate for Combating Organised Crime roughly one year ago.
Greek unit serves as direct template
The Greek service integrates several specialised branches of the Hellenic Police, including units for narcotics, human and goods trafficking, crimes against life and property, financial crime, organised sports violence, and intelligence operations.
Cyprus authorities confirm they will adopt Greek know-how, but they have not yet decided whether the Cypriot directorate will copy the exact same sub-directorates or adapt the structure to local crime patterns and Cypriot legislation.
Sources indicate that the Drug Law Enforcement Unit (ΥΚΑΝ) and the Crime Combating Department of the Cyprus Police will almost certainly form the core of the new organised crime directorate.
Ministers underline close bilateral cooperation
During the visit, Minister Hartsiotis highlighted the intensifying cooperation between the two ministries. He stated that Cyprus now possesses all necessary material from Greece to build an equally effective unit.
He stressed three prerequisites for success: clear legislation, suitable premises, and staffing with highly qualified officers. The minister aims to complete the project “as soon as possible” but refused to give a fixed timeline, emphasising quality over speed.
Greek Minister Chrysochoidis, accompanied by commander Lieutenant General Fotis Douitsis, praised the Cypriot initiative as a major step forward for citizen safety.
He revealed that in its first year the Greek directorate carried out 1,500 arrests and secured 550 pre-trial detentions, demonstrating tangible results against transnational criminal networks.
Key challenges: staffing and legal framework
Experts from Athens emphasise that Greece succeeded because it quickly appointed the most experienced officers and issued a Presidential Decree to establish the unit. Cyprus may face greater legal and administrative hurdles due to differences in the two countries’ systems.
No names of the future Cypriot directorate has been announced, nor have the exact departments that will merge into it.
Minister Hartsiotis confirmed that the building issue “has essentially been resolved and will be finalised very soon.”
Broader cooperation extends beyond organised crime
The two ministers also discussed migration, drug trafficking, police training, and joint priorities for Cyprus’s upcoming EU Council Presidency starting in January 2026.
Both sides committed to daily intelligence sharing and further expansion of officer exchange and training programmes.
The Ministry of Justice expressed satisfaction with the visit outcomes and pledged to continue upgrading bilateral relations for the benefit of public safety in both countries.
Source/Featured photos: Kathimerini
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