SBA police: 34 arrests, four drug cases and arson in one week
Sovereign Base Areas police made 34 arrests last week, including eight for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Arrests, drugs and arson: a "demanding" week for SBA police
The Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) police carried out 34 arrests during the past week for various offences, as announced on Tuesday. Eight of the arrests involved driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to the Cyprus Mail.
Authorities are simultaneously investigating four separate drug cases, three of which relate to a suspected quantity of cocaine. As part of road safety operations, officers conducted 30 checks across all SBA, issuing 63 traffic fines and carrying out 25 breath tests.
In the Dhekelia area, SBA police worked with the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre and the Cyprus Police on a search and rescue operation on Saturday morning. Rescue teams located two men, aged 25 and 37, approximately 1.5 nautical miles off the coast — both were unharmed.
Deputy Superintendent Melina Papagregoriou appealed to swimmers to remain vigilant against changing weather conditions and rough seas, avoiding unjustified risks. Her warning comes following a series of drownings in Cyprus, including the death of a 72-year-old in the Dhekelia area on 17 August.
The police are also investigating suspected arson: on Sunday morning, unknown individuals deliberately set fire to a vehicle, which then spread to a second parked car in the surrounding area. Papagregoriou stated that police are investigating the motives and circumstances of the incident.
She described the week as "demanding", with officers responding to emergencies, drug cases, dangerous driving and serious criminal investigations, whilst assuring that visible and preventative patrols would continue.
Source: Cyprus Mail