Romanian national remanded in custody for violating currency and exchange law

A Romanian man accused of violating the “Currency and Foreign Exchange Law,” has been remanded in custody following a court appearance in Lefkoşa.

The police stated that on February 18, 2025, the suspect visited a jewelry store in Lefkoşa, identifying himself as Daniel Preda, and sold two round 24-karat gold pieces weighing a total of 62 grams for 177,581 Turkish Lira.

Further investigations revealed that on January 11, 2025, the suspect sold 12 gold pieces—both round and square in shape—also 24-karat and weighing 461 grams in total, for 1,323,070 Turkish Lira.

Officer Manaş also stated that on January 18, 2025, Ciobanu sold 14 round 24-karat gold pieces for 1 million Turkish Lira and transported them across the Metehan Border Gate, thus violating the Currency and Exchange Law.

As part of the investigation, police seized a variety of gold pieces as evidence, including 6 small round, 8 large round, 6 rectangular 22-karat, and 5 round 24-karat coins bearing the image of the Queen of England.

Ciobanu was arrested on May 22, 2025, at the Metehan Border Gate while crossing from South to North Cyprus, pursuant to an outstanding arrest warrant. In a verbal statement to police, he claimed he had purchased the gold in Romania two years prior and brought it from the South to the North to sell, unaware that this act constituted a criminal offense.

The police confirmed that the investigation is complete. Given that the suspect is a Romanian citizen residing in South Cyprus, they requested that he be remanded in custody to ensure his presence at trial.

After reviewing the testimony, the judge ordered that Ciobanu be held in custody for a period not exceeding 15 days.