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British Jihadis lured into joining ISIS extremists in Syria are being smuggled in through the sunshine island of Cyprus.

Starting their journey on budget flights to the holiday destination, they then travel into Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus.

There, they hand over up to £1,000 to fishermen who are willing to take them across the Mediterranean and drop them on the Syrian coastline under cover of darkness.

One source told The Mirror: “It’s difficult to put firm numbers on it – I’d estimate many dozens of people from the UK have used this route to reach the caliphate.

“It’s a simple business contract, the deals are carried out in cash – always cash.

“Everyone knows what is going on. But it’s never spoken about.”

(Image: Rowan Griffiths) (Image: Rowan Griffiths)

Last week the Government announced a major crackdown on people heading from the UK to fight for IS.

Incredibly, the journey we have uncovered begins on an island where Britain maintains a 3,500-strong military presence.

Would-be jihadis first make contact with a man in Northern Cyprus known as “the ISIS travel agent”.

To evade security services, communication takes place via text message.

He arranges hotel accommodation, taxi services and their onward travel by sea to Syria.

Posing as tourists the extremists book flights on carriers such as EasyJet, Ryanair and British Airways to the Greek side of Cyprus.

(Image: Rowan Griffiths)

The island remains divided after a war in 1974. The north, aligned with Turkey, is not internationally recognised as a country.

United Nations troops patrol the border to keep the peace - while Britain has two military bases in the south.

Once they land they stay in small cheap hotels in one of the nearby seaside resorts.

The “ISIS travel agent” - across the border in Famagusta on the Turkish side of the island - then fixes for transport to bring them across.

It’s quick, simple and while passports are checked by border control it’s a simple process.

Once through the jihadists have successfully left the EU without raising any suspicions.

In Famagusta they are on Turkish Cypriot territory.

(Image: Rowan Griffiths)

One source told the Mirror: “This has been going on for at least a year.

“It’s difficult to put firm numbers on it it but I would estimate that many dozens of people from the UK have used this route to reach the caliphate and join ISIS.

“It’s quite simple really. It’s a simple business contract but the deals are carried out in cash - always cash.

“Every one knows what is going on. But it’s just not spoken about.”

In recent years Northern Cyprus has become infamous for its crime links and the hiding place for many notorious Brits.

M25 killer Kenny Noye and on-the-run millionaire fraudster Asil Nadir stayed here to escape the clutches of the British authorities.

Many criminals on the UK’s ‘most wanted’ list are in hiding in luxury villas.

The Daily Mirror followed the same route as the radicalised Brits.

(Image: PA)

We flew from Gatwick Airport to Larnaca on an EasyJet flight. On a recent flight to cover the refugee crisis in Turkey there were police officers after the check-in desks.

They surveyed every single passenger to assess if they were potential jihadists.

There was no such extra security on this flight.

After landing we took a taxi – costing £75 - across the border.

It is still heavily guarded with armed soldiers on watchtowers.

Holding a EU passport we were able to cross easily – as many tourists do each day.

One boat skipper, who was terrified of being identified, explained: “It’s exactly the same for the jihadists.

“They have EU passports as British citizens and appear just like the tourists who come across the border.

“There is never any problems getting across.”

(Image: Rowan Griffiths)

After staying one night in a small hotel tucked away on the dusty streets of the old town of Famagusta the extremists meet the “ISIS travel agent.”

The skipper said: “There is usually three or four of the British Jihadists at a time.

“Although they often fly separately from different UK airports.

“The charge for the crossing is usually 1200 Euros for each person – in cash obviously.

“But I have heard of one person who came from north London on his own and he was was charged 3000 Euros.”

Once the money has been handed over they return to their hotels in Famagusta which is a military town.

There are still watchtowers on the beach to guard a disputed zone of hotels left bombed and derelict from the 1974 war.

Actress Sophia Loren’s villa lies in ruins half a mile down the beach.

After nightfall a car arrives to pick them up.

(Image: Reuters)

They are taken 25 miles north east to the quaint fishing port of Bogaz.

On their way they see all the elements of western life they are desperate to leave behind.

They pass the Salamis casino, the Sunrise Beach resort - advertising homes for 39,000 euros - and the East Mediterranean University.

They pass “The Old English Pub” and “Johnny Rockets the original hamburger restaurant.”

All businesses and institutions which are banned in the ISIS caliphate.

But they do also drive past the imposing Pola Tpasa Cami mosque.

As the driver takes them to their destination he is careful to adhere to the 65kph speed limit.

As they enter Bogaz they turn right into the small car park to the east of the grey stone harbour.

The port, which is tucked away from the main road, is home to about 30 small fishing and pleasure boats.

(Image: Rowan Griffiths)

It is a popular tourist spot but British holidaymakers in the nearby Karsel restaurant and Bar Bogas have no idea what is going on behind the scenes.

As they sip drinks under the olive and pine trees with the background noise of the nearby fountain they don’t realise the next smuggling operation is already being planned.

The skipper explained: “When they arrived at night the jihadists are quickly taken onboard whichever boat is taking them so they are out of sight as soon as possible.

“The skipper involved will already know the routine of the Turkish coastguards on that particular night.

“He has a safe window to get into international waters. Some-times they drop their nets a few miles out.

“Then they proceed to Syria which is about three to four hours away depending on the weather conditions.

“They some-times meet a pre-arranged boat from the other side in the middle of the sea and the Jihadists are transferred there.

“Some-times they take them all the way to the Syrian coast-line. “Once they are there it’s easy to make their way east towards the caliphate.

“On the way back they stop to pick up their nets and return to port around dawn with their catch for the day. No-one is the wiser.”

On our two visits – one during the day and one at night we were regarded with suspicion.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

We felt intimidated. No-one would speak about the situation.

One man said: “There’s an omerta in place.

“No-one will say a word about this for fear of upsetting what is going on.

“You just do not mess with these people.”

Anti-terror cops say more than 700 Brits have travelled to Syria or Iraq to support or fight with IS and other jihadis.

Around half are thought to have returned to Britain, police chiefs say.

Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood late last year said the number was closer to 2,000 with ISIS-linked social media claiming 20 Brits a day were signing up to fight.

It is estimated 45 Brit jihadis have died in combat while 21 have been convicted of offences such as funding or supporting terrorism or planning to travel to a terror training camp, in court.

The most common route into Syria is across the Turkish border but new recruits are increasingly travelling via Italy and across the Mediterranean to north Africa.

It is believed up to 60 Brits have travelled to Syria using this new route bia Cyprus.

Security expert George McKillop CEO of Haymarket Risk said: “Policing borders is never an easy task, and the authorities have to be equally innovative to identify and close loopholes before they are exploited.

In this case, flying into Greek Cyprus and crossing the border into Turkish Cyprus was identified as a way to evade controls and take a short boat trip to Syria.

“Following the Mirror’s investigation, this particular loophole will no doubt quickly be addressed but the fact is that anyone who is determined to get to Syria will use their initiative to try to identify alternative weaknesses via which they can achieve their aim.

“Whether it be a cyber criminal, a fraudster a common thief or a political extremist, those determined enough will always use their ingenuity to find innovative ways to breach controls.

"In all cases the best security is deployed by those who think like criminals to identify weaknesses before they are exploited.

“In some cases it can be the most obvious way that may be overlooked by the authorities.

"As with any form of security, it is essential that every effort is made to identify loopholes before they are exploited.

"This means ongoing innovative thinking by those charged with policing borders.”