According to head of Paphos CID Michalis Nikolaou, on Saturday night members of the Game and Fauna service heard a shot in the Argaka area and noticed the presence of a suspicious vehicle.

Officials tried to stop the vehicle but its driver managed to escape. The registration number was tracked, providing details of the owner, a 28-year-old man from Paphos.

On Sunday afternoon the 28-year-old was found and arrested in connection with poaching, while various items were confiscated from his residence, including a shotgun.

He is being investigated for the offences of smuggling firearms and explosives, non-compliance with a gamekeeper’s signal, chasing prey at night and chasing prey using a motor vehicle.