Man arrested in Larnaca airport over €827,400 car import fraud scheme

Police arrested a 37-year-old man at Larnaca airport in the early hours of Thursday under a court warrant, on charges including theft, obtaining property by false pretences and money laundering. The man had previously been arrested in the United Kingdom under a European arrest warrant issued by Cyprus. Police are investigating 20 cases against him involving the same offences, allegedly committed between 2022 and 2023 in Limassol and Nicosia, where he is accused of obtaining cash and vehicles worth a total of €827,400. He allegedly posed as a car importer bringing vehicles in from abroad, taking money from people interested in buying cars without ever importing the vehicles. The man was placed in custody and is due to appear before Limassol District Court on Thursday morning for a remand hearing. Limassol CID continues its investigation.