The Larnaca Criminal Court has sentenced the leaders of an international criminal network that organized over a hundred sham marriages

The Larnaca Criminal Court delivered a guilty verdict in a high-profile case involving an international criminal network that orchestrated more than a hundred fake marriages in order to illegally obtain residence permits in the EU. Cyprus was the hub of the operation, which also extended to other European countries. The investigation was the result of a long-term joint operation by law enforcement authorities in Cyprus, Portugal, and Latvia, codenamed “Limassol Task Force,” culminating in a major raid on January 29, 2024. The first signs of the scheme reached Cypriot authorities as early as November 2020.

The court found five individuals guilty: a 40-year-old Pakistani national identified as the scheme’s mastermind; his 45-year-old Portuguese wife who recruited women willing to enter into sham marriages; and two Indian nationals, aged 38 and 26, who operated as part of the network in Cyprus. Another Indian man was also convicted for entering a fake marriage to obtain residency. The remaining 12 suspects — 11 men and one woman — will soon appear before the Larnaca District Court on similar charges.

The court determined that the criminal organization defrauded the Republic of Cyprus, particularly the Civil Registry and Migration Department. Charges included conspiracy to defraud the state, money laundering, facilitating forgery of official records for personal gain, and participation in an organized crime group. One defendant was also found guilty of providing false information during the registration of a sham marriage.

Key testimony was given by three women who appeared via video link from abroad. The court deemed their accounts credible and consistent with the evidence. Since 2017, the group arranged at least 133 fake marriages, generating over 1 million euros in illegal profit. The scheme enabled foreign nationals, primarily from Asian countries, to legalize their status in the EU and move freely within its borders.

The next court session is scheduled for Friday and will focus on discussing possible sentence reductions for the convicted individuals.