British Bases police detain 12 people at Lady's Mile and Kourion

The Sovereign Base Areas Police (SBA Police) in Cyprus has published its first report on the results of the large-scale summer Operation Guardian, which began on 30 May and is set to run until the end of August 2026. In the first four weeks of raids at the popular beaches of Lady's Mile and Kourion, officers detained 12 people. One of the most notable incidents was the discovery of an entire arsenal of weapons in a foreign national's car.

Detention of a driver with weapons and drugs:
Over the past weekend, during patrols of the coastal area, officers stopped a car driven by a 34-year-old homeless citizen of Bulgaria. The man is suspected of driving under the influence of drugs. During a search of the vehicle, police seized:
— Narcotic substances (apparently for personal use).
— Several pointed knives prohibited to carry.
— An agricultural sickle.
— A heavy wooden club.
By court decision, the detainee has been remanded in custody until the start of the formal court hearing, which is scheduled for 6 July 2026.

Overall monthly offence statistics:
In addition to targeted arrests, the base police recorded dozens of administrative and regulatory offences:
— Traffic violations. 20 drivers were fined for minor offences, while another 60 or so people received formal written warnings for failing to comply with road and coastal regulations.
— Licensing checks. Two citizens were detained and taken to the Akrotiri police station for operating commercial vehicles without the required professional licence.
— Maritime raids. A special water unit inspected 113 vessels (motorboats and jet skis) for life-saving equipment and compliance with maritime regulations.

Operation objectives and the legal status of the areas:
The increased police presence is due to the huge influx of holidaymakers: on weekends, the beaches of Lady's Mile and Kourion attract more than 7,000 visitors in total. As Senior Inspector Tony Demetriou explained, patrols are carried out simultaneously on land and at sea to curb illegal water attractions and monitor compliance with environmental regulations.

As these beach areas are geographically located within Akrotiri — one of the British Sovereign Base Areas that remained under UK jurisdiction after Cyprus declared independence in 1960 — security here is provided by the local base police force (with around 250 officers), rather than by the civilian police of the Republic of Cyprus.