37-year-old man arrested at Larnaca airport for multi-million euro vehicle fraud scheme
A 37-year-old Greek Cypriot man was arrested at Larnaca airport on August 6, 2026, upon his return to Cyprus after being apprehended in the United Kingdom under a European Arrest Warrant. He is currently being investigated for approximately 20 cases of fraud, theft, and money laundering committed in Limassol and Nicosia between 2022 and 2023. The suspect allegedly posed as a vehicle importer, deceiving citizens by collecting deposits for car imports that never arrived or taking possession of vehicles to sell without returning the proceeds to the owners, amassing a total of €827,400.
Following his appearance before the Limassol District Court on August 6, 2026, where he appeared without legal representation and did not contest the motion, the court issued an eight-day detention order to facilitate further investigations by the Limassol Criminal Investigation Department. Sources suggest the number of complainants may exceed the initial 20 cases reported.
The suspect is a known figure to local authorities, having previously served a four-year prison sentence in connection with a major 2020 drug trafficking case. Although he had previously cooperated with authorities and entered a witness protection program, this new investigation involves significant financial crimes that have drawn widespread public attention.