Operation Zygos launched to hunt for fugitives hiding in Cyprus

25 April 2013

Update - Fraudster arrested in Spain

Martin Power, 47, was apprehended by Spanish authorities in the vicinity of Riviera del Sol, Mijas, Malaga on 9 April. Power is wanted in relation to an alleged £7m of mortgage fraud.

3 October 2012

Update - Hit-and-run case couple hand themselves in

Wayne Smith, 38, and his partner Julie Skelding, 36, today presented themselves to Cyprus Police. Smith was convicted in his absence of causing the death by dangerous driving of a 22-year-old Birmingham man in 2005. Skelding had been found guilty of Perverting the Course of Justice in relation to the same incident.

14 September 2012

Update - Alleged sex offender arrested days after campaign launch

Paul Lockwood, 41, from Oldham, was arrested in Somerset on Friday 7th September, less than 48 hours after the campaign launch. He was arrested for alleged sexual offences against a child over a five year period.

5 September 2012

SOCA have launched a new campaign with UK crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers and Cyprus Police (CYPOL) to locate some of the UK’s most-wanted fugitives.

Operation Zygos features nine suspected criminals possibly evading justice in what is one of the most popular countries for British ex-pats.

These individuals are wanted by UK law enforcement for crimes including drug offences, fraud and serious sexual assault.

This campaign highlights the continuing work between Crimestoppers and SOCA, but is the first project of this type to be carried out in collaboration with CYPOL.

The campaign mirrors the successful approach pioneered by Operation Captura, launched in Spain in October 2006, which has resulted in 49 out of 65 targeted criminals being arrested with many now behind bars.

Operation Zygos aims to ensure members of the public in Cyprus are alert to the possible presence on the island of the nine individuals, who all have European Arrest Warrants (EAWs) issued against them. Information given anonymously to Crimestoppers can help lead to their location and arrest by CYPOL.

Crimestoppers and SOCA work closely with the British High Commission in Nicosia as well as British and Cypriot law enforcement agencies.

SOCA Deputy Director Martin Molloy said:

“Operation Zygos builds on SOCA’s close relationship with Cyprus Police, working together to combat criminal threats to the public.

“Fugitives hiding overseas typically remain part of the criminal world, continuing to bring harm to communities locally and beyond. SOCA and its partners are determined to ensure life on the run is intolerable for them, and that they are returned to face justice in the UK.”

Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Founder and Chair of Crimestoppers, said:

“Operation Zygos is an example of the continuing impact Crimestoppers is having abroad in the fight against crime, and my hope is that we shall see more success in bringing some of the UK’s most wanted fugitives to justice.

“While these suspected criminals will see Cyprus as a safe place to evade law enforcement, my belief is that with the help of the local public and ex-patriot community, these individuals will not be able to escape justice for much longer.”

For those people calling from Cyprus there is a dedicated number - 8000 55 11 - which will be answered in the UK by Crimestoppers’ call agents. A translation service is available upon request. They can also pass on information through a dedicated website www.crimestoppers.org.cy

People in the UK can also pass on information anonymously via Crimestoppers - 0800 555 111 - or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Hasan AKARCAY

Subject Dob:     18-07-1956
Nationality:        Cypriot
Wanted by:       West Yorkshire Police

Alias details:
• Hassan ETEM
• Ibrahim ETEM

Description:
• Height: approximately 5ft 9, stocky build with a large stomach
• Balding with black hair at the sides, tanned skin.

Offences:
• Akarcay is wanted in connection with the Supply of Class A drugs after an alleged associate was found transporting 12.5 kilos of diamorphine, with a street value of £600,000 (€758,000). His fingerprints were apparently found on inside wrappings and on the sticky underside of the masking tape used to seal the drugs.

Martin EVANS

Subject Dob:     28-01-1962
Nationality:        British
Wanted by:       SOCA

Alias details:
• Martin Roydon EVANS, Martin Royden EVANS
• Martin Wayne EVANS, Anthony HALL, Paul KELLY
• Alias DOB: 20/01/1962
Description:
• Height: 5 ft 11 to 6 ft, stocky build, blue eyes, short brown/greying hair, Welsh accent
• Tattoos: “ME” on his right arm

Offences:
• Between 1999 and 2001, Evans led an organised crime group supplying Class A drugs, most notably cocaine, MDMA and Ecstasy in the UK. He set up a system whereby drugs were imported to the UK and sold, with the proceeds being converted into foreign currency and transported to the Netherlands for drug purchases.
Evans is also wanted for fraudulent trading as director of an incorporated company, Ostrich Centre Limited, in 1995. The firm received investments from the public totalling several hundred thousand pounds, which Evans was found to have stolen.

Timur MEHMET

Subject Dob:      13-04-1973
Nationality:         British
Wanted by:        HMRC





Description:
• Height: 5 ft 10 to 6 ft, slim build, black hair, Asian origin

Offences:
• Mehmet is wanted for his role in a conspiracy to cheat the public revenue by the operation of a Missing Trader Intra-community (MTIC) fraud. The fraud has caused a loss to the UK of £25 million (€31.5million).
He appeared in Court in June 2007 when he was warned that he had to be at court for his trial in October 2007, and that failure to attend could result in him being tried and sentenced in his absence.
He failed to attend the trial and subsequently he was found guilty in his absence and sentenced to eight years imprisonment.

Costas Sampson

Subject Dob:     15-02-1991
Nationality:        Greek Cypriot
Wanted by:       Metropolitan Police





Description:
• Height: 5 ft 9, large build, Mediterranean complexion, brown eyes, black cropped/shaved hair, right handed.

Offences:
• Sampson is accused of raping a girl he met at a Greek club. The girl was taken unwell after accepting a drink from a stranger, when Sampson and a friend offered to take her home. It was here that Sampson is alleged to have told a friend of the girl that he was a medical expert, and is accused of raping her while she was incapacitated. He is also accused of stealing her mobile phone and flatmate’s laptop and games console.

Mehmet SALIH

Subject Dob:      10-06-1971
Nationality:         Cypriot
Wanted by:        Leicestershire Police

Alias details:        Aynur Mehmet SALIH



Description:
• Height: 5 ft 6, proportionate build, brown eyes, short dark brown hair, right handed, scar on right eye

Offences:
• Between December 2010 and November 2011, SALIH is accused of being involved in a conspiracy to supply controlled drugs of Class A, namely cocaine, in the UK. SALIH was allegedly contacted on a regular basis by an associate for the purposes of buying cocaine. SALIH is then accused of delivering the cocaine and collecting payment from this associate.
In May 2011 SALIH allegedly visited Lincolnshire for the purposes of delivering cocaine and collecting payment. The police apparently recovered large amounts of cocaine and upon his arrest he was alleged to be in possession of £20,000 (€25,000).

Martin John POWER - arrested in Malaga on 09 April 2013

Wayne SMITH - handed himself in to authorities following publicity 03 October 2012

Julie Anne SKELDING - handed herself in to authorities following publicity 03 October 2012

Paul LOCKWOOD - arrested 07 September 2012