Ibrahim Khaldoon Hilmi arrested in Northern Cyprus for Medicare fraud

Ibrahim Khaldoon Hilmi, an Iraqi-born US citizen, was arrested on June 18 in the occupied territory of Cyprus following a joint operation involving the FBI, Turkish security services, and local authorities. Hilmi is accused of involvement in a major healthcare fraud scheme involving $3.7 billion in fraudulent Medicare claims. He had been residing in Ayios Epiktitos, Kyrenia, since May 2025 and was declared an undesirable immigrant by local administration on June 16. Following his arrest, he was transferred to Turkey and subsequently taken into US custody by FBI officials on June 19. He was transported via private jet to Southern Florida, where he now faces formal criminal charges. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the successful foreign transfer of custody and expressed gratitude to Turkish authorities and US diplomatic staff for their assistance. While local media in the occupied territory emphasized the cooperation of their internal services, US official statements highlighted the coordination between the FBI, the Department of Justice, and Turkish counterparts.