Man sent to north Cyprus to sh**t a businessman caught following tip off

A 32-year-old man who was sent to north Cyprus to shoot a businessman was caught and arrested by Turkish Cypriot police during an operation code-named “Mouse Trap”.

The suspect identified as Islam Baydar, a 32-year-old man from Turkey was arrested during a police operation in a hotel located in Lefkosa on Friday April 18.

He was brought to court on Saturday on charges of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Possession and Transport of Explosive Materials,”

In court, the police officer who testified regarding the case, stated that on April 18, 2025, the Lefkoşa Police Department received information indicating that a male suspect, allegedly incited by a wanted man in Turkey named I.F,. had been sent to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to shoot a businessman. Following this information, the police launched “Operation Mouse Trap.”

During the investigation, it was determined that the individual sent to the TRNC was Islam Baydar, and that he was staying in room 405 of a hotel in Lefkoşa.

Acting on a court-issued search warrant, the police conducted a search in Baydar’s presence. In a black bag wrapped in a black jacket, located in the wardrobe on the right side of the room entrance, police found: 1 Browning-brand 7.65 mm caliber pistol, 1 magazine, 8 bullets inside the magazine, 1 bullet chambered in the pistol. 

In total, 9 live rounds were found and taken as evidence. The suspect was arrested on the spot.

The police added that the suspect gave a confessional statement following the incident, but emphasized that the statement must be verified and corroborated. 

He also noted the importance of thoroughly reviewing surveillance footage that may shed light on the case and requested that Baydar be held in police custody for 3 days to ensure the investigation proceeds properly.