Foreign doctor arrested at Larnaca airport for smuggling aesthetic medical supplies

On October 24, 2026, a doctor arriving from Greece was intercepted at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus by customs officials. Following intelligence gathered from online advertisements, authorities discovered five vials of injectable substances for aesthetic procedures and one vial of anesthetic in the traveler's luggage. These products lacked marketing authorization in the Republic of Cyprus and were not properly labeled in Greek or English.

The investigation was initiated after the Pharmaceutical Services monitored social media posts announcing the doctor’s planned cosmetic treatment sessions at a private hospital. Customs officers, assisted by the Drug Law Enforcement Unit, seized the illicit materials for violating the Medicines for Human Use Law. While authorities confirmed the seizure and subsequent legal proceedings regarding the confiscated substances, they clarified that the individual was not arrested but is currently under investigation.

Cypriot health authorities, including the director of the Pharmaceutical Services, Elena Panagiotopoulou, have highlighted a recent trend of illegal imports of non-authorized injectable cosmetic products. Officials emphasized that being a qualified physician does not authorize the importation of medical goods without adherence to strict regulatory standards and proper licensing, warning the public to be cautious regarding medical treatments performed with undocumented supplies.