Nicosia District Court has issued detention orders for six suspects allegedly involved in a drug trafficking network led by 48-year-old convicted criminal Georgios Christodoulou Zavrantonas, following presentation of police intelligence.
Judge Malvina Nathanael approved the detention orders after police presented evidence of an alleged criminal organisation involved in drug trafficking, racketeering and illegal gambling operations.
A police sergeant told the court that intelligence indicates the network generates approximately €50,000 weekly, with sources suggesting total earnings of €1 million in recent months.
Eight-day detention for key suspects
The court ordered eight-day detention for Zavrantonas, a 37-year-old woman from Nicosia with whom he maintains a romantic relationship, and a 40-year-old man from Famagusta described as Zavrantonas’s close associate. The woman’s parents and brother received six-day detention orders.
According to police testimony, communications within the network occur through encrypted applications including WhatsApp and Signal. Zavrantonas allegedly maintains constant contact with the 37-year-old woman and her mother, providing instructions regarding the management of proceeds from illegal activities.
The 40-year-old suspect allegedly operates under Zavrantonas’s direction, collecting various amounts from premises before delivering them to the 37-year-old woman, who subsequently distributes the money for personal expenses, her beauty institute operations, and storage on Zavrantonas’s behalf.
Searches uncover €309,097 in cash
Police searches of suspects’ residences yielded significant cash discoveries and evidence. Officers found €53,870 at the 37-year-old woman’s apartment alongside three mobile phones, whilst her parents’ residence contained €149,710 in cash and a valuable painting allegedly gifted by Zavrantonas.
The woman’s brother’s residence yielded €83,160 and a mobile phone, whilst the 40-year-old suspect’s accommodation contained €22,357 in cash, a mobile phone and a prison visit document dated 25 June bearing details linking to Zavrantonas.
A mobile phone was discovered in Zavrantonas’s prison cell during the searches.
Prison guards under investigation
Police sources indicate the 37-year-old woman allegedly pays three prison guards to ensure Zavrantonas receives favourable treatment at Central Prison. The three guards are under criminal investigation, with search warrants executed at their residences and three mobile phones seized.
