Six Syrians suspected of financing terrorism have allegedly orchestrated the transfer of hundreds of thousands of euros, it emerged on Friday.
Investigation into the matter by the Republic’s authorities is ongoing, following the release and re-detention of a number of suspects, first arrested in October.
On Wednesday, six individuals were taken into custody after being found to have transferred funds while under deportation proceedings, Philenews reported.
The daily has also named the terrorist organisation receiving the funds as Hayat Tahrir al Sham or HTS, formerly known as Al Nusra or the Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist organisation operating in Idlib, Syria
The suspects include a 44-year-old believed to be the HTS treasurer, his 29-year-old brother-in-law, his 36-year-old wife, and three other men aged 35, 38, and 44.
Initially, eight people were arrested in Paphos and Limassol, but two suspects – a 45-year-old of Syrian origin with Cypriot citizenship and a 49-year-old – were later released due to insufficient evidence.
The CID cancelled the deportation orders for the six suspects and brought them before the Nicosia District Court, where a closed-door session approved an eight-day detention based on new evidence. Data extracted from the suspects’ mobile phones showed they managed large, suspicious sums.
Access to their bank accounts revealed fund transfers not justified by their incomes.
An alleged WhatsApp chat appears to record that the 44-year-old suspected HTS treasurer received a sum of €250,000 from his associates in Cyprus.
In one alleged WhatsApp exchange, the 44-year-old suspected treasurer received €250,000 from associates in Cyprus. His 36-year-old wife also reportedly shared an image of a money-counting machine showing €4,900 and discussed additional sums with her brother. She also purportedly sent a photo of euro bills scattered on the floor of her Limassol residence.
Relatives of the suspects, who followed court proceedings, argued an abuse of process, claiming irregularities in the timing of deportation and detention. Although defence attorneys challenged the authorities’ handling of the case and questioned witness material, the court ruled the police had met the necessary conditions for detention.
According to police intelligence, the 44-year-old Limassol resident is the primary suspect with extensive connections in Idlib and other Middle Eastern countries. Authorities believe he transferred up to €50,000 weekly to HTS using Hawala, an informal money-transfer system that bypasses banks.
The 44-year-old suspect allegedly had connections with Turkish nationals who travelled to the north to receive the money collected from a network in cities in the south.
Associates throughout the island allegedly engaged in procuring funds though drugs trading and trafficking.
The investigation has also uncovered alleged links to Hezbollah through an associate who reportedly feared for his life after handling a large sum of money.
Another associate, allegedly linked to ISIS, is suspected of coordinating weapons trading, explosives trafficking, and even orchestrating murders.
