Serious and organised crime in Cyprus declined slightly in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year.
Despite the overall decline, financial fraud, arson and extortion remain significant problems for police and continue to demand substantial attention from law enforcement.
These types of crime remain prevalent, increasing the demands on authorities in terms of prevention, investigation and enforcement.
The geographic distribution of organised crime is also changing. Increased activity has been recorded mainly in Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos, suggesting that organised criminal groups are no longer concentrated in specific areas. By contrast, Nicosia has seen a decline in this type of criminal activity.
Limassol recorded the highest number of “serious crimes” in the first half of 2026, with 826 cases, followed by Nicosia with 691 and Larnaca with 542.
The shift in criminal activity requires authorities to adapt their planning and presence across different districts. Homicides have also declined significantly.
Only two homicides were recorded across Cyprus in the first half of 2026, compared with 23 in 2023, nine in 2024 and 13 in 2025.
The figures show a clear decline in homicides this year, one of the most notable findings from the first-half data.
Source: Fileleftheros
