Woman arrested at Ercan Airport for trying to leave north Cyprus with $24,500

A woman who tried to exit Ercan Airport with 24 ,500 US Dollars, was arrested for possession of huge amount of money which is more than the accepted 10,000 Euros or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish Lira. 

The suspect, identified with the initials, UTQA, a citizen of Kyrgyzstan was arrested at around 4:00am on Friday May 31 at Ercan Airport after she was found with 24,500 US Dollars.

The suspect resides in Azerbaijan and is a tourist in TRNC.

She was taken to the Lefkosia district court charged with acting "Contrary to the Currency and Foreign Exchange Law".

Police told the court that the suspect was about to leave the TRNC when she was detected to have carried huge sum of money upon passing the airport X-ray device.

Police said the 24,500 US Dollars found on her was more than the 10,000 Euros or equivalent foreign currency permitted. 

Police said the $24,500 detected was seized as evidence.

The suspect in a statement to the police said she earned the money in question by gambling in 4 different casinos.

Police stated that the camera footage would be examined to determine whether the money was earned from the casinos and that it would be investigated where and how the money was obtained, and asked that she be detained for 3 days for the purpose of investigation.