Cyprus Court Sentences Man in Human Trafficking Case

A man accused of aiding in the sea transport of 31 illegal immigrants from Syria has been sentenced by a court in Cyprus to two prison terms, the longest of which is five years.

According to a statement from the Attorney General’s Office, the criminal court found the defendant guilty on five charges, including assisting unlawful entry into the Republic of Cyprus, transporting people by sea on an overcrowded and unsafe vessel, involvement in human smuggling, and being part of an organized crime group.

The court established that the man committed the crime to avoid paying smugglers and voluntarily agreed to navigate the boat from Syria to Cyprus, fully aware that he was transporting illegal immigrants. To prepare for the journey, he even took navigation lessons.

During the investigation, it was revealed that the boat was dangerously overcrowded, posing a serious risk to the lives of those on board. The boat carried 31 undocumented migrants.

The court pointed out that the increase in such crimes has severe social and economic consequences, making the work of law enforcement even more challenging. As a result, the court decided to impose a sentence meant to serve as a deterrent.