Police carried out coordinated operations on Wednesday in Nicosia’s old town, inspecting three apartment buildings as part of ongoing efforts to improve public safety.

The raids led to the arrest of four individuals for illegal residence and revealed serious health and safety violations.

The operation was part of an initiative led by Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis. Officers from the Nicosia crime prevention unit, the immigration and aliens service, and municipal health inspectors took part in the inspections.

A total of 39 people were checked during the raids. Four were found to be living illegally and were taken into custody. Meanwhile, health inspectors identified severe hygiene deficiencies, overcrowding, and safety hazards in the buildings. The Nicosia municipality has been tasked with addressing these issues.

The inspections follow a high-level meeting attended by the justice minister, Nicosia’s mayor, the chief of police and officials from various state services. The meeting aimed to tackle growing concerns over security and living conditions in the old town.

Authorities have pledged to continue such operations to ensure compliance with the law and improve the quality of life in the area.