Criminal revelations emerge in court over alleged nightclub protection rackets

Five men, including a 22-year-old National Guard contract soldier, appeared in the Larnaca district court on Friday after being arrested on Thursday night as part of a police sting operation targeting organised crime in the city.

The arrests were linked to an alleged criminal syndicate that for three years has reportedly imposed security guards at Larnaca nightclubs to collect money for “protection”.

Police say the operation followed the seizure of mobile phones belonging to one suspect...