Two 20-year-olds arrested for passing counterfeit banknotes in Ayia Napa

Early on Friday, September 11, 2026, two 20-year-old men were arrested in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, on charges of possessing and circulating counterfeit currency. The incident occurred shortly after midnight when police officers on foot patrol were alerted to two individuals attempting to pay for services at a local business using suspicious money.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers were handed two €200 banknotes by staff members, which were identified as fraudulent due to the absence of standard security features. A subsequent search of the two suspects revealed an additional three counterfeit €200 notes in their possession. In total, five notes were seized as evidence, and the suspects remain in police custody as part of an ongoing investigation.

The Famagusta Criminal Investigation Department (TAE) has taken charge of the case to determine the origin of the counterfeit bills and to identify any broader criminal activity. The suspects were apprehended in the act, and the investigation remains active as authorities verify the scope of the incident.