Are Smugglers to Blame? Border Guard Dismissals Linked to Foot-and-Mouth Outbreak

Published February 28, 2026, 14:07

The president of the Tillyria community complex, Nikos Kleanthous, links the increase in foot-and-mouth disease cases in the free areas to the dismissal of border guards last year. The dismissal of 230 contract special police officers created gaps in the monitoring of the green line, facilitating the activities of smuggling rings. Although the government tried to retain the border guards, renewing their contracts was legally impossible. New special police officers were hired, however, the extent of the green line is so large that smugglers find ways to bypass surveillance. Mr. Kleanthous argues that the government should focus on combating smuggling activities, which cause significant damage to the area.

Are Smugglers to Blame? Border Guard Dismissals Linked to Foot-and-Mouth Outbreak

You Might Also Like

Βρήκαν και κάνουν

Μέτρα αποτροπής εξάπλωσης αφθώδους πυρετού σε πέντε περιοχές του Δήμου Κουρίου (εικόνες)

Σε αυτές τις περιοχές απαγορεύεται το κυνήγι λόγω του αφθώδους πυρετού (δείτε χάρτη)

Κοινοτάρχης Τηλλυρίας: Συνδέει μετάδοση αφθώδους πυρετού με απόλυση 230 ειδικών αστυφυλάκων που φρουρούσαν την Πράσινη Γραμμή