Larnaca, Cyprus. A 32-year-old Ukrainian woman was sentenced to 20 months in prison on Thursday after being found guilty of making false declarations to customs authorities over cash brought into Cyprus. The court heard she carried a total of €7,769,300 into the country during 20 trips between August 2023 and March 2024.
Court ruling
The woman was convicted by the Larnaca criminal court of giving false statements to the customs department concerning funds she brought into Cyprus during 20 separate trips over the seven-month period.
The decision followed an earlier ruling by the same court acquitting her of 20 money laundering charges after finding that prosecutors had failed to prove the funds came from criminal activity.
A 43-year-old Ukrainian man who had also faced money laundering allegations in connection with the case was likewise acquitted.
Investigation
The investigation began after the woman reported to police on March 1, 2024, that she had been robbed of €420,000 in Limassol by two unidentified individuals travelling on a motorcycle.
Her complaint led to a wider inquiry into the movement of large amounts of cash through Larnaca airport.
Investigators later determined that she had entered Cyprus 20 times over about seven months carrying a combined total of €7,769,300 in cash.
Evidence presented
At the start of the investigation, authorities charged the woman with money laundering and providing false information.
Police questioned the origin of the funds after identifying inconsistencies in her explanations.
According to evidence presented in court, the woman initially said the money came from a loan intended for the purchase of residential property in Cyprus.
