Cyprus found itself at the center of an international luxury car theft scheme

Cyprus has become the center of a large-scale international scheme involving the illegal resale of premium-class vehicles stolen in European countries. According to law enforcement authorities, the island was used as a transit point for the legalization and subsequent sale of expensive cars, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Range Rover, and Porsche.

The investigation is being coordinated by Europol and the police of several EU countries, including Italy, Germany, France, and Greece. Preliminary findings suggest that the criminal network forged vehicle origin documents, using fake invoices, counterfeit certificates, and falsified customs data. The cars were then sold as legally imported — including through intermediaries in Cyprus.

The probe intensified after an inspection of a car dealership in Nicosia, where inspectors discovered discrepancies in the registration numbers and VIN codes of several vehicles. An expert analysis confirmed that the cars were listed as stolen in Interpol databases.

According to sources, several individuals — both local and foreign — have already been arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of involvement in the scheme. Investigators believe that dozens of cars stolen in Europe over the past two years may have passed through the island.

The Ministry of Interior of Cyprus stated that it is working closely with international organizations and will strengthen control over the import of used vehicles. The ministry also urged citizens to verify the origin of vehicles before purchase, especially if the price is significantly below market value.

The Cyprus Police confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and did not rule out the release of new names and details in the near future.