A chilling murder-for-hire plot targeting twin brothers on holiday in Cyprus has been thwarted in a dramatic international operation — one that reads like a Hollywood crime thriller. Three suspects — two Norwegians and an Irish national — have been arrested and remanded in custody for eight days by the Famagusta District Court in Paralimni, according to reports from Philenews.
A Deadly Scheme Orchestrated Online
The alleged conspirators were not the masterminds behind the plot but members of a criminal network seeking a hitman online. What they didn’t know was that the person they contacted was not a contract killer — but an undercover Danish police officer.
Upon learning that the planned double homicide was to take place in Cyprus, the officer immediately alerted Danish authorities and Europol, who in turn notified the Cyprus Police. The suspects reportedly offered approximately €85,000 (650,000 Danish kroner) to carry out the killings — with instructions allegedly including bribing local officials to ensure no law enforcement presence at the crime scene.
Undercover Operation Unfolds in Larnaca and Ayia Napa
The undercover officer entered Cyprus under the guise of a hired assassin. According to court testimony, he received encrypted instructions via Signal. His first stop was in Larnaca, where he collected €200. He was then directed to Ayia Napa, where he checked into a hotel.
Later the same day, he was sent coordinates to pick up more money. There, he observed — as he later testified — a figure dressed in black clothing and slippers placing an envelope beside the wheel of a white car. Surveillance teams quickly identified a rented vehicle driven by one of the suspects, who appeared to be scouting the drop-off location.
On 24 August, police placed a car under surveillance in Ayia Napa carrying two of the suspects and two women. The undercover officer confirmed these individuals matched the profiles of those he’d been instructed to meet — and were, in fact, the intended targets of the operation.
He subsequently met one suspect to collect another payment: €1,000 hidden inside a cardboard box placed behind a basket.
Arrests and Backgrounds
All three suspects were arrested on 27 August. One claimed he was simply visiting Cyprus for vacation. A second suspect was found to have a serious criminal record in his home country — including convictions for threats and extortion — and is currently wanted for firearms possession and making threats. Details about the third suspect’s background were not disclosed publicly.
In a statement, the Cyprus Police emphasized the significance of the case: “This operation highlights the importance of speed, operational readiness, and international cooperation in tackling emerging forms of serious and organized crime.”