20 year old Turkish Cypriot jailed for smuggling irregular migrants from north to south Cyprus

A Greek Cypriot court on Tuesday sentenced a 20 year old Turkish Cypriot man to eight months in prison after he was found guilty of  assisting irregular migrants enter south Cyprus from north Cyprus.

The accused was arrested in April, this year after 46 migrants were found walking on the Akaki-Avlona road. 

Later, he confessed that he was a member of a gang which illegally assisted Syrian migrants to enter Cyprus through the buffer zone from Mersin, Turkey in order to make profit.

The 20 year old admitted that he received payment to help the migrants enter Cyprus. The Syrians told police that they paid between €4,000-€5,000 each to the smugglers.

They also stated that they travelled to the north of Cyprus from Mersin. There they were led to an area inside the buffer zone and entered south Cyprus on foot.

The 20 year old also admitted to the possession of an offensive weapon and for illegally entering south Cyprus between April 10-17.

According to report, police are looking for two other men who are believed to have aided the 20 year old.

Sourced from In-Cyprus