Cyprus police dismantle alleged forged tenancy agreement ring; nine held in custody

Famagusta, Cyprus. Police on Thursday announced they had dismantled a criminal ring allegedly involved in producing forged tenancy agreements and supplying them to third parties, after nine arrests.

Allegations and suspected method

Police said the suspects allegedly prepared fake rental agreements using forged stamps and supplied them to individuals of the same nationality. Police said the recipients then submitted the documents, along with other paperwork, to the Famagusta aliens and immigration service in an effort to secure registration as students in Cyprus.

Arrests and court proceedings

Police said the nine arrests were made between April 17 and April 28, 2026. The investigation has been completed and the case was filed before the Famagusta district court on April 28. The court ordered that all nine suspects remain in custody until May 15, when they are due to reappear before the court.

What steps should authorities take to prevent forged documents from being used in student registration applications?