Cyprus Times

“Today I have a meeting with Putin – Can you go to the girls?”: Conversations that betrayed the cigarettes

Published February 9, 2026, 17:12
“Today I have a meeting with Putin – Can you go to the girls?”: Conversations that betrayed the cigarettes

Revealing are the conversations of the members of the cigarette smuggling organization that amassed immense sums from the manufacture and trafficking of illegal cigarettes, captured by the EL.AS. In these conversations, members use coded language, referring to “hotels” and “girls” to describe the “factory” and their “workers.” There are also references to a person they call “Putin,” who appears to be the leader of the organization. In one conversation, a member states that they have a meeting with “Putin,” while in another, they discuss the riskiness of transporting goods with “small” vehicles. Another conversation reveals the organization of work and communication between members. These conversations provide important information about the operation of the organization and the relationships between its members. In total, 26 members of the organization have been arrested, while another 13 people, including a police officer, are charged. The investigation continues to identify other involved individuals.