Student sentenced to 12 years in prison by a north Cyprus court for drug importation

A court in Lefkosia on Monday sentenced a Nigerian to 12 years in prison after he was found guilty of drug crimes.

The decision against the defendant, MCO who was arrested in June 2021 was announced by judges of the Lefcosia High Criminal Court on Monday, January, 29.

On June 2, 2021, the Directorate for the Prevention of Narcotics and Smuggling were informed by the Customs Officers on duty in the cargo department of Ercan Airport, of suspicious 7 externally wrapped packages with duct tape sent in the name with the initials UAO.

On the same day, a police team affiliated with the Narcotics and Smuggling Prevention Directorate went to the cargo section and checked the suspicious packages and detected jute-type drugs weighing approximately 3 kilograms.

The defendant who went to buy the drugs, and UAO, who received the package in his name, were arrested.

Investigation revealed that the drugs were sent from Nigeria.

The defendant's accomplice, UAO was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison in June 2022. 

The judge noted that the defendant's lawyer defended his client's role in the crime to a lesser extent, but this was not possible to accept.

The judge stated that the defendant was the person who went to pick up the large amount of drugs sent by cargo and that he had a major role in the crime.

The judge emphasized that if the defendant had not been caught, he would have caused the drugs to be distributed within the country, and that his role in the crime was more serious than his accomplice.

Noting that drug crimes are becoming increasingly common and threatening the health and future of society, the judge stated that the amount in the case is considerable.

The judge stated that they evaluated all the facts when making a decision about the defendant, and that his accomplice was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison, and sentenced the defendant to 12 years in prison.