A large-scale, coordinated operation targeting barbershops owned by foreign nationals was carried out on Thursday in Limassol, involving multiple police units from Limassol and beyond. It is not the first time that authorities, in Limassol and other cities, have placed such establishments in city centres under scrutiny.
The operation comes amid a broader focus by the police on foreign nationals allegedly engaged in illegal activities and links with organised crime, making the Limassol inspections far from coincidental. Indicative of the range of suspected offences is the fact that, beyond the police and its units, the operation also involved officers from the Department of Labour Inspection and the Tax Department.
Preparatory meetings and coordination had taken place in advance, with police also seeking the assistance of local authorities. At the same time, numerous complaints had been submitted by professionals in the sector, citing unfair competition due to non-compliance with legislation. Among the main issues identified are breaches of operating hours, operating without any licence, failure to issue receipts and other violations.
Concerns have also been raised about the sheer number of barbershops operating in very close proximity to one another, prompting questions over their financial viability. Authorities are also said to hold specific information relating to other activities, while it has not gone unnoticed that, in a recent attempted murder case in Limassol, the suspects are barbershop owners operating in the city centre.
What was found
According to police briefings, a total of 15 barbershops were inspected during the campaign on Anexartisias Street, Gladstonos Street, Franklin Roosevelt Street, Misiaouli and Kavazoglou, Omonias Avenue, Christodoulou Chatzipavlou Street, Georgiou I Avenue and Apostolou Varnava Street.
Of these, 11 barbershops were found to be closed, while in the remaining four, complaints were filed for operating without a licence from the competent authority and for operating in violation of their permitted hours. One restaurant was also reported for operating without a licence.
The operation was deliberately carried out on a Thursday, a day on which barbershops are legally required to remain closed, a provision that authorities say is frequently violated by foreign-owned establishments.
During the inspections, three foreign nationals were arrested for illegal residence in the Republic, while a further three were arrested for offences committed in flagrante delicto, after cases of illegal employment were identified.
In addition, eight foreign nationals at four premises were reported for undeclared work and fined a total of €26,800. An officer from the Tax Department also reported two premises for failure to issue receipts and for not using electronic payment machines.
At the same time, a further 50 foreign nationals present at the inspected premises were checked, with no issues identified.