Missing British MMA fighters identified as targets of foiled Cyprus murder plot

Local CrimepoliceTop Newsuk Missing British MMA fighters identified as targets of foiled Cyprus murder plot 0 Bhr Lec 090926 Cyprus Relevant News Police union demands law change over mental health patient handling 10 September 2026 Police union: patrol cars ‘covered in blood’ from mental health call-outs 10 September 2026 Cyprus extends 8.33-cent fuel duty cut to November 30 10 September 2026 newsroom 10 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Two twin brothers from the United Kingdom have been identified as the intended targets of an international murder-for-hire plot in Cyprus, leading authorities to launch a multi-jurisdictional search for the former mixed martial arts fighters who vanished shortly after the assassination scheme unravelled. Brothers Jamie and Aaron Small, who previously competed in MMA in Liverpool before leaving the UK, were named as the targets in reports by the Liverpool Echo. The pair had recently been holidaying in Cyprus, but local police believe they fled the island following the intervention of European law enforcement. Merseyside Police told the Liverpool Echo they are in active contact with Cypriot authorities to assist in locating the brothers and supporting the criminal investigation. The plot, which resulted in the arrests of eight suspects across Europe, has also brought the Kinahan organised crime cartel into the frame of the Cyprus investigation. According to a joint investigation by The Irish Times, the Cyprus Investigative Reporting Network (CIReN), Norway’s VG, and Sweden’s SVT, Irish security sources believe the proposed hit was commissioned by veteran criminals with close ties to the Kinahan cartel. Investigators emphasize that established crime syndicates increasingly rely on “violence as a service”—outsourcing violent contracts to smaller networks such as Ireland’s McCarthy-Dundon gang or Sweden’s Foxtrot network to insulate senior Kinahan figures from direct law enforcement exposure. The operation came to light on 10 August when an individual using the pseudonym “Sponge Jobb” posted an advertisement on the encrypted platform Signal, offering $60,000 in cryptocurrency for a contract killer to execute a hit within the European Union. An undercover Danish police officer, posing as a prospective hitman, responded to the listing. The undercover operative was provided with photos of Jamie and Aaron Small, alongside details that handguns and ammunition had been obtained from Turkey. The officer was directed to collect an advance cash payment in Ayia Napa while being monitored by suspects involved in the scheme. Cypriot police subsequently arrested eight suspects, including a 33-year-old Irish national with alleged ties to the McCarthy-Dundon gang, two Norwegian citizens, and five Swedish nationals. Authorities seized a pistol, medical masks, and disposable gloves during follow-up searches. All eight suspects remain in custody in Cyprus as of 8 September, though none have been formally charged. All maintain their innocence, with several claiming they were visiting Cyprus strictly as tourists. The motive behind targeting the Small brothers has not been disclosed, and law enforcement agencies—supported by Interpol—continue to trace their whereabouts. (Picture by the Liverpool Echo) Read more: What is the Kinahan cartel, and why has its name surfaced in Cyprus? Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Police union demands law change over mental health patient handling Police union: patrol cars ‘covered in blood’ from mental health call-outs Cyprus extends 8.33-cent fuel duty cut to November 30 Herzog hopes for Cyprus-Lebanon-Israel leaders’ meeting as talks cover energy and defence Child benefit reform to reach 17,000 families under Cabinet-approved changes Blaze near Pano Deftera now under control (video) “He sold land like he sold passports,” MP says Anastasiades Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.