The Nicosia Criminal Court ordered the detention of six suspects allegedly involved in a drug trafficking and money laundering operation that police claim generated €1 million over six months.
District Judge Malvina Nathanael approved remand orders for the suspects following a hearing at which police presented what they described as “highly reliable” intelligence obtained on 18 June. The operation centres around 48-year-old convicted criminal Georgios Christodoulou Zavrantonas, who police allege led the criminal organisation from prison.
Police raids conducted this week uncovered approximately €310,000 in cash at properties linked to the suspects, along with mobile phones and what officers described as an expensive painting. The court ordered eight-day detention periods for Zavrantonas, a 37-year-old woman described as his partner, and a 40-year-old man from Famagusta identified as Zavrantonas’s close associate. The woman’s parents and brother received six-day remand orders.
Alleged criminal network structure
Police Detective Sergeant Makis Nikolaou from Nicosia’s Crime Investigation Department told the court the organisation allegedly earned €50,000 weekly through drug trafficking and illegal gambling services. Communications between suspects occurred through encrypted messaging applications including WhatsApp and Signal, according to the police case.
The 37-year-old woman allegedly managed financial distributions, using proceeds for personal expenses and her beauty institute whilst transferring amounts to other suspects and storing money at various properties for Zavrantonas. Police claim she paid three prison guards to ensure favourable treatment for Zavrantonas at the Central Prison.
The 40-year-old suspect allegedly collected money from various locations under Zavrantonas’s direction before transferring it to the woman, who then distributed funds according to the organisation’s structure.
Evidence seized in coordinated raids
Police searches of suspect properties yielded:
- One mobile phone from Zavrantonas’s prison cell
- Three mobile phones and €53,870 cash from the woman’s apartment
- A painting and €149,710 cash from her parents’ residence
- One mobile phone and €83,160 from her brother’s possession
- One mobile phone, €22,357 cash, and a prison visit permit dated 25 June from the 40-year-old’s residence
Three prison guards are under criminal investigation for allegedly accepting payments. Police executed search warrants at their homes and seized three mobile phones.
Legal proceedings and defence criticism
Defence lawyers expressed strong dissatisfaction with police handling of the case but did not object to the remand applications. Christos Poudjiouris, representing Zavrantonas and the sixth suspect, criticised police for issuing a public wanted notice with his client’s details after the man had contacted a police station, calling the action unnecessary and damaging.
Lawyer Paris Loizou, representing the 37-year-old woman, similarly criticised police for publicly releasing his client’s details whilst she was willing to cooperate. Criminal lawyer Elias Stefanou, representing three family members, requested medical assistance for one suspect with a heart condition during detention.
The suspects face charges including conspiracy to commit felonies and misdemeanours, corruption offences, illegal possession of property, and money laundering. Police allege the crimes occurred between 1 January and 6 June 2025.
Read more:
