Directorate for Combating Organised Crime: the "Cypriot FBI" acquires official name
The new anti-crime service will be called DCOC and is expected to be formally established next month. Christos Andreu will be the first director.
DCOC: the official name for combating organised crime in Cyprus
The service that became informally known as the "Cypriot FBI" will ultimately bear the name Directorate for Combating Organised Crime (DCOC), according to information from Philenews. The service is expected to be formally established as an agency next month, provided no obstacles arise.
The "Cypriot FBI" had been informally revealed through its first successful operation: the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of a sum exceeding €400,000. The investigation into the case, which falls within the framework of combating organised crime, is continuing.
Greek police as model — Andreu as first director
The DCOC will operate according to the model of the equivalent service of the Greek Police and will deal exclusively with organised crime cases. The first director of the new directorate, as reported by Philenews, will be Christos Andreu, the current head of the Drug Enforcement Service.
The Ministry of Justice and Public Order and Minister Costas Fytiris are working intensively on establishing the service. The decision to establish it was taken during the tenure of Minister Mario Chartsiotis, after it was determined that organised crime had penetrated every economic activity, with racketeering, drug trafficking and money laundering.
Merger of DES and IIAP
The DCOC will incorporate the Drug Enforcement Service (DES) and the Information Management and Analysis Service (IIAP), while members from various other services will be seconded to strengthen the work of the new directorate. The strike force will come from the DES, whilst analysts and specialised personnel in economic data analysis will operate in the offices.
There is already a mapping of organised crime and the sectors in which it operates. The basic principle of operation of the new service will be the monitoring of money flows. Every money laundering case will be examined in cooperation with MOKAS for the detection of sources and money trails.
Building in Acropolis — signatures imminent
For the accommodation of the new service, an existing building in Acropolis on a well-known avenue has been identified, which has already been inspected by the relevant state services. The signatures are expected to fall soon for its acquisition by the public sector, in order for the necessary remodelling to be carried out and the required infrastructure to be installed.
Investigations into importation of large sums of money
Recently, two cases came to light concerning attempts to import large sums of money, either via roadblocks or via the airport. The origin and final destination of these sums are being investigated. Members of the new service are working in parallel on more cases, analysing information from the Tax Office, the Pothen Esches declarations and information gathered from major drug cases.
Source: Philenews