Cyprus police busts international marriage fraud ring targeting vulnerable Romanian women

Cyprus police, in collaboration with Europol, have dismantled a major human trafficking network that arranged sham marriages to secure EU residence rights for foreign nationals.

The criminal ring targeted vulnerable women from Romania, bringing them to Cyprus with false promises of financial support and better living conditions. The victims were taken to local municipalities for fake marriages before being sent back to their home country. The network covered their travel expenses, accommodation, and provided a small payment for their participation.

The Anti-Trafficking Unit has made two arrests in connection with the case. The suspects appeared before the Nicosia District Court.

Prosecutor Elena Constantinou requested that both defendants remain in custody until the trial, scheduled for 17 December. She cited flight risk concerns and referenced victim testimonies describing how the accused exploited them to defraud the Republic.

The court ruled on Friday 6 December) that both defendants should remain in detention, agreeing with the prosecution about the flight risk due to their lack of strong ties to Cyprus.

The trafficking operation dates back to 2019. A woman recently arrested in Belgium is believed to have been responsible for identifying victims and arranging the sham marriages at Cyprus municipalities. According to authorities, she and the first defendant recruited vulnerable European women to help secure registration for third-country nationals as spouses of EU citizens.

Following intelligence gathering, police conducted a coordinated investigation that led to the identification of victims whose testimonies exposed the network. Three women have been identified as victims in three separate cases involving the same perpetrators.

Additional suspects are currently being sought, with investigations extending to other European countries. The woman arrested in Belgium is expected to be extradited to Cyprus soon.