Police in Paphos arrested a 38-year-old man on Monday as part of an investigation into counterfeiting currency, possession and circulation of counterfeit money and obtaining property by false pretences.

According to Paphos police spokesperson Michalis Nicolaou, a kiosk owner reported that between September 21 and 22, a customer used two €50 banknotes to purchase prepaid cards worth a total of €60, receiving €40 in change.

A subsequent examination of the two banknotes revealed they were counterfeit, as they bore the same serial number.

On September 22, the same individual returned to the kiosk to buy another prepaid phone card, again using a banknote with the same serial number.

When the employee informed him that the note was counterfeit, he left the scene, abandoning the note on the kiosk counter.

Police investigations identified the individual as a permanent resident of Cyprus who has since been arrested and is in custody.