An intense chase in the Nicosia district led to three arrests for illegal hunting, following collisions and gunfire in the area of Morphou, according to Cyprus’s Game and Fauna Service.
During a patrol in Astromeritis, game wardens detected a suspicious vehicle driving through farmland. Authorities reported hearing gunshots and saw the use of spotlights, which are often deployed to disorient hares.
Three Game Service patrol cars were dispatched to intercept the vehicle. Officers signaled the driver to stop for inspection, but the suspect fled, triggering a high-speed pursuit. Around 12:20 a.m., the chase ended in Atsas, where the suspect’s vehicle hit a power pole and crashed into a service vehicle. No serious injuries were reported.
Authorities recovered three hares, a hunting rifle, and high-powered spotlights during the arrests.