Woman who was robbed of €420,000 hours after arriving in Cyprus jailed for money laundering

Greek Cypriot police said they are investigating a case of money laundering from illegal activities, following the arrest of a 31-year-old foreign woman on Friday who was robbed in Limassol, south Cyprus just hours after arriving in Cyprus carrying thousands of euros in her purse.

The woman, reported to be from Ukraine, arrived in Limassol by taxi from the airport with €420,000 in her purse. She told police she was robbed by a group of people that grabbed her bag and fled the scene on foot.

The suspect has been placed under a five-day detention, pursuant to a judicial order issued this morning by the Nicosia District Court, for the purpose of investigating the case.

According to report, the suspect under interrogation is not cooperating with the investigative authorities.

She presents various claims such as giving the money she brought to Cyprus to a friendly person, without, however, providing further information.

According to the evidence under investigation, the 31-year-old suspect, between August 2023 and March 2024, repeatedly traveled by air to Cyprus as a visitor, declaring to the customs authorities of Cyprus the transfer of large sums of money she had in her possession upon her arrivals at Larnaca and Paphos airports.

These amounts appear to total 6 million euros.

In the early hours of yesterday, March 1st, the 31-year-old arrived by air in Cyprus, where also upon her arrival at the airport, she declared to the customs authorities the transfer of a large sum of money she had in her possession.

From the examinations conducted by the police so far as part of the investigation, the 31-year-old does not seem to have provided adequate explanations for the origin of the money and the reasons for their transfer to Cyprus.

She is being investigated for involvement in a criminal organization, participation in and acceptance of the commission of crimes, money laundering from illegal activities, and conspiracy to commit a crime.

The case is being investigated by the Financial Crime Unit of the Police Headquarters.