Moldovan tycoon Vladimir Plahotniuc and former lawmaker Constantin Țuțu were arrested over the weekend at the Athens International Airport while allegedly trying to flee to Dubai using false identities, according to RISE Moldova and Greek police documents.
Greek authorities delayed the departure of the Dubai-bound flight to apprehend the two men, who had been staying at a luxury villa in the upscale seaside town of Saronida, south of Athens.
Plahotniuc, once one of Moldova’s most powerful political figures, is wanted by Moldovan prosecutors on charges of creating and leading a criminal organization, fraud and large-scale money laundering, including in connection to the so-called “Billion Dollar Bank Fraud” that drained the country’s financial system between 2013 and 2015. His arrest follows a renewed Interpol notice issued at Moldova’s request.
Țuțu, a former member of parliament and close associate of Plahotniuc, was reportedly detained at Russia’s request based on a separate Interpol alert.
According to an internal report from the Greek Police’s Organized Crime Division cited by RISE Moldova, the pair were intercepted shortly after arriving at the airport with only backpacks in hand. Greek police said Plahotniuc was carrying travel documents issued under a false Bulgarian identity, over €2,000 ($2,347) in cash, two mobile phones, and a laptop. Țuțu was found with forged Romanian documents and a similar amount of money.
A search of the villa on Ifaistou Street uncovered a trove of evidence, including €155,000 ($181,890) in various currencies, 17 passports and IDs from multiple countries, several encrypted digital storage devices, high-end electronics, and four luxury watches by Breguet, Kees Engelbarts and Urwerk. Authorities also seized a Skoda Kodiaq SUV used exclusively by Plahotniuc.
The four-level, 1,400-square-meter villa—described by real estate websites as among the largest private residences in the area—boasts eight ensuite bedrooms, an infinity pool with Aegean Sea views, a private guesthouse, a wine cellar, and a hammam-equipped gym. Documents reviewed by RISE show the property was purchased in 2008 by Greek citizens and rented to Plahotniuc.
The Moldovan Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office confirmed Sunday that it had been informed of Plahotniuc’s arrest via international police cooperation channels and is preparing formal extradition requests.
Plahotniuc fled Moldova in June 2019 amid a dramatic power shift in the country. Shortly thereafter, Moldovan prosecutors requested Interpol issue a Red Notice for his arrest. However, the alert was later removed following Plahotniuc’s legal challenge, and his whereabouts remained unknown for years.
Following renewed pressure and additional evidence submitted by Moldovan authorities, Interpol reportedly reinstated the alert earlier this year. Contacted by RISE Moldova, Plahotniuc’s lawyer, Lucian Rogac, said he intends to challenge the decision, claiming it is based on “false information” provided by Moldovan prosecutors.
“We have clear evidence proving the Interpol decision in Mr. Vladimir Plahotniuc’s case relies on misleading data,” Rogac said, adding that they would seek a reversal of the arrest alert.
According to Moldovan prosecutors, Plahotniuc currently faces three valid arrest warrants and is under criminal investigation in multiple cases. One of those relates to the multibillion-dollar fraud scheme that allegedly funneled over $1 billion out of Moldova’s banking sector and state budget.
Greek judicial authorities are expected to rule shortly on whether to hold the pair pending extradition proceedings.