International investigation links Kinahan cartel to attempted hits on British twins in Cyprus

An international investigation by the Irish Times, the Cyprus Investigative Reporting Network (CIRN), Norway’s VG, and Sweden’s SVT has linked a plot to murder British twin brothers in Cyprus to the Kinahan cartel. The operation, which targeted victims residing in the Famagusta area, was allegedly coordinated through lower-tier criminal networks in Ireland and Sweden, following a solicitation on the Signal messaging app on August 10, 2026, offering approximately €87,000 for the hit.

Cypriot authorities have arrested eight individuals in connection with the case, comprising one Irish national, two Norwegians, and five Swedes. Security sources indicate that while the initial arrests on August 27 disrupted the plot, the organizers behind the cartel—a major European cocaine trafficking organization currently facing significant law enforcement pressure—continued to pursue the targets. The two British brothers, who were the intended victims, have since departed Cyprus. The investigation highlights how the Kinahan group now utilizes smaller criminal factions, such as the Swedish Foxtrot network and the Irish McCarthy-Dundon gang, to distance its core members from direct criminal liability for such violent acts.