Ten people were arrested for illegal residence during police raids Friday morning at a derelict apartment complex near Larnaca port, where dozens were found living without basic utilities.
The operation by Larnaca police and Immigration Services targeted the multi-storey building on Makarios Avenue, where residents occupy units lacking electricity and water. Some apartments use curtains instead of doors.
Officers completed the arrests by 9:00 AM, detaining individuals found to be residing in Cyprus without a permit. The building houses dozens of people across multiple apartments with more than 90 registered owners.
The complex shows extensive deterioration, with corroded walls in common areas and fire damage visible in one section. Rubbish accumulates in corridors and courtyards, whilst parts of the structure present safety risks.
Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras said the municipality has established a committee with the Larnaca District Local Government Organisation and the Electricity Authority to address the problems.
“There are structural and legal violation issues at the site. These are complex legal procedures involving multiple services,” Vyras said.
The committee formed after electricity supply issues emerged alongside concerns over building safety and regulatory violations.
Municipal authorities appointed joint legal counsel to clarify property ownership across all apartments and initiate legal proceedings.
The arrests came after President Christodoulides announced a reinforcement of Larnaca’s police units and tightened measures on migration in response to a perceived increase in crime in the city.
Crackdown on migration
According to official figures, Cyprus has deported over 18,000 people since the Christodoulides administration took over in 2023 and has the European Union’s highest return-to-arrival ratio at 179%.
Human rights organisations have raised concerns about Cyprus’s treatment of asylum seekers.
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