Man detained at Larnaca Airport over €827,000 car import fraud case

Cyprus Police detained a 37-year-old man at Larnaca Airport under a court warrant on suspicion of theft, obtaining property by deception and money laundering. The man had previously been detained in the United Kingdom on the basis of a European arrest warrant issued by the Cypriot authorities.

According to police, the investigation concerns 20 cases that allegedly took place between 2022 and 2023 in Limassol and Nicosia. The total amount of money and value of the vehicles that the man allegedly obtained from the victims is approximately €827,400. Investigators allege that the man presented himself as a car importer and offered clients the opportunity to purchase vehicles from abroad, taking their money, but the cars were never actually delivered.

The detainee is being held in custody. On Thursday morning, he is due to appear before the Limassol District Court for a hearing on the extension of his detention.

The investigation is being conducted by the Limassol Criminal Investigation Department.