Damage from non-functioning radars in the TRNC exceeded 600 million lira

The road radar system in Northern Cyprus has not recorded a single violation since its launch in January 2026, while the damage to the public treasury has exceeded 600 million lira. The TRNC Audit Office cites these figures in a report dated 15 September.

The new number-plate recognition system based on artificial intelligence was presented on 16 January 2026 at an official ceremony. According to the auditors, software integration failures meant that it never began issuing penalty notices.

The previous Gatso camera system, which cost €5.7 million, stopped working on 8 April 2025 because the licence fees had not been paid. More than 100 dismantled cameras, the report says, are lying unguarded in warehouses and deteriorating.

The auditors also listed technical shortcomings of the new equipment. The cameras have neither a night mode nor a flash, making it impossible to identify vehicles in nighttime footage. The contractor did not supply the 20 mobile cameras promised at the presentation, while the servers were installed in government department buildings rather than police premises, in violation of security requirements.

The report names former Transport Minister Erhan Arıklı, the ministry itself, Road Traffic Department Director Ahmet Aydın, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Enver Öztürk and contractor RADARSAN as responsible parties. The materials concerning the damage to the public treasury have been forwarded to the General Prosecutor’s Office.