French national jailed for violating military zone in Northern Cyprus

Lefkoşa, July 17, 2025 — A French citizen, KD, has been remanded in custody for up to one month after allegedly entering a first-degree military restricted zone and leaving Northern Cyprus without authorization.

KD was brought before a Lefkoşa court following his arrest on July 16, 2025, in connection with an incident at the Metehan border crossing. 

According to testimony presented by the police, KD was found to have committed the offense while traveling as a passenger in a vehicle.

At approximately 6:41 p.m., he reportedly exited Northern Cyprus through a military-restricted area without completing the required immigration procedures. Later, at 8:23 p.m., he attempted to re-enter Northern Cyprus from the southern part of the island via the Metehan crossing, where he was identified by immigration officers and taken into custody.

The police confirmed that the investigative phase in which the suspect could interfere has been completed. Given that KD holds French citizenship and has no permanent ties to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), authorities requested that he be held in pretrial detention.

After reviewing the evidence, the judge ruled that the suspect be detained for a period not exceeding one month while awaiting further legal proceedings.

The case highlights the strict enforcement of military zone regulations and border protocols in the TRNC.