Key points
- Cyprus police detained 26 people on Thursday in a nationwide operation, codenamed Plegma, against suspected drug trafficking networks, police said.
- The operation was run by the police's newly established directorate for combating organised crime, following an investigation that began in February after a seizure in Nicosia.
- Searches linked to the February stop found 167kg of cannabis, 62kg of cocaine and 4.5kg of cannabis resin; five people remain in custody in that case, police said.
- In the latest raids, officers carried out 27 searches and seized more than €25,000 in cash, 37 mobile phones, two firearms and small quantities of drugs.
- Working with the anti-money-laundering unit Mokas, police secured court orders freezing assets worth about €400,000, plus about €100,000 in funds.
Cyprus police have detained 26 people in a nationwide operation against suspected drug trafficking networks, in what the justice ministry called a significant step against organised crime on the island. The operation, codenamed Plegma — the Greek word for "network" — was led by the police's newly established directorate for combating organised crime, police said on Thursday. Read more: Seven arrested and more than 100 servers seized as police across Europe strike at suspected fake-investment network
The key figures
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| People detained in Operation Plegma | 26 | Cyprus police |
| Searches in the latest raids | 27 | Cyprus police |
| Cash seized in the latest raids | More than €25,000 | Cyprus police |
| Mobile phones seized | 37 | Cyprus police |
| Firearms seized in the latest raids | 2 | Cyprus police |
| Cannabis found after the February stop | 167kg | Cyprus police |
| Cocaine found after the February stop | 62kg | Cyprus police |
| Cannabis resin found after the February stop | 4.5kg | Cyprus police |
| Firecrackers found on 19 February | 11,480 | Cyprus police |
| Assets frozen with Mokas | About €400,000, plus about €100,000 in funds | Cyprus police |
| People still in custody from the February case | 5 | Cyprus police |
The investigation began in February
The investigation began in February, after a major drug seizure in Nicosia, police said. On 19 February, officers stopped a vehicle carrying two people and found 11,480 firecrackers, along with cannabis and cocaine in the possession of one of the occupants. Searches connected to the driver then uncovered 167 kilograms of cannabis, 62 kilograms of cocaine and 4.5 kilograms of cannabis resin. Police also reported seizing firearms, explosive devices, cash and electronic cigarettes believed to contain drugs. Five people remain in custody in connection with that case, police said, adding that the investigation had revealed wider links among members of the network.
Raids, searches and frozen assets
The latest raids swept across the island. Officers carried out 27 searches of homes, businesses and vehicles, confiscating more than €25,000 in cash, 37 mobile phones, two firearms, ammunition, fireworks and small quantities of cocaine and cannabis, police said.
Police also moved against the money behind the suspected networks. Working with Mokas, the unit for combating money laundering, they secured court orders to freeze assets linked to the investigations — a house, several plots of land, ten cars and two motorcycles, valued at around €400,000, along with a further €100,000 in funds. The operation aimed, beyond arrests and drug seizures, at uncovering the financial structures supporting organised crime, police said.
What the justice ministry said
The justice ministry said on Thursday that Operation Plegma marked an important advance against drug networks. It commended the professionalism and dedication of the officers taking part, and promised continued backing in the form of extra personnel, equipment and legal measures. Protecting the public, particularly younger generations, remained a priority, the ministry said, and operations would go on.
What happens next
The investigation into the suspected offences continues, police said, with more operations planned to dismantle criminal networks and protect communities, particularly young people, from the effects of drugs and crime. No further details of those planned operations have been released. Europe Unfolded will report developments as they are confirmed.
Updates & corrections
Published 5 November 2026.
No updates or corrections have been made to this article since publication.
Sources
- Cyprus News, "26 arrested in major Cyprus police operation targeting organised crime networks", 5 November 2026, on the 26 detentions, Operation Plegma and the directorate for combating organised crime, the February investigation and seizure figures, the 27 searches and confiscations, and the Mokas asset freezes: cyprusnews.app
- Cyprus Inform, "Justice Ministry Calls Police Operation Plegma a Key Step Against Organised Crime", 5 November 2026, on the justice ministry's statement, the 26 detentions, the February seizure and the five people still in custody: kiprinform.com
- Cyprus Mail, "26 detained in Cyprus drug trafficking case", 5 November 2026, corroborating the 26 detentions, the February seizure figures, the 27 searches and the asset freezes: ua.news (reprint of the Cyprus Mail report)