The British Bases Police made 22 arrests for various offences over the past seven days as part of its summer operations.
The cases included, among others, drug possession and four instances of driving under the influence of alcohol. At the same time, officers conducted 31 road-safety operations, 39 maritime patrols and five targeted operations against the illegal trapping of wild birds.
According to a police statement, officers in Dhekelia arrested a man on the evening of September 1 for driving under the influence of drugs. During a search of his vehicle, they found and seized a small quantity of a substance believed to be crystal methamphetamine, two folding knives, a glass pipe bearing traces of drugs and a grinder believed to have been used for cannabis.
In one of the seven road collisions recorded, specialist police officers investigated the death of a man on the Limassol-Paphos motorway. The man lost his life while attempting to retrieve an object that had fallen onto the road.
The driver of the minibus that struck the man was arrested and questioned. He was subsequently released under restrictive conditions, while the investigation continues.
The Marine Police Unit carried out 39 patrols and inspected 51 vessels. It also successfully rescued six people from the Lady’s Mile area after the vessel they were travelling on suffered mechanical failure.
The specialist team in Dhekelia tasked with combating the illegal trapping of wild birds continued its high-visibility operations, aimed at identifying and arresting people attempting to illegally trap migratory blackcaps.
During five targeted patrols, six metal poles and four metal bases were removed and destroyed at one location.
Referring to the past week and the fatal motorway accident, Police Inspector Melina Papagregoriou said that it had been “a demanding week for our members, which was tragically marked by the fatal road collision on the Limassol – Paphos motorway”.
She added that the police’s thoughts were with the family and loved ones of the man who lost his life.
“The circumstances of the collision are still being investigated and we urge all road users to remain vigilant, reduce their speed when approaching stationary vehicles and exercise particular caution on high-speed roads,” Ms Papagregoriou said.
“Despite this tragic incident, our members continued to conduct visible patrols and targeted checks and provide immediate assistance to our communities, demonstrating their professionalism and commitment to protecting and ensuring the safety of the public,” she concluded.
Source: CNA