Student sentenced to 3 years in prison in north Cyprus for drugs and illegal residency

A student was on Friday sentenced to 3 years in prison by a north Cyprus court after she was found guilty of drug crimes.

The decision against the defendant, ISO was announced by the Kyrenia High Criminal Courton Friday, Feb., 9.

ISO was arrested in October, 2023 and taken to court on charges of "taking, giving and using drugs" and "residing in north Cyprus without a residence permit".

Announcing the decision in court, the chief judge noted that the defendant bought 60 grams of drugs from a person on October 3, 2023. She then gave 41 grams of 333 milligrams of drugs to unidentified persons between October 3 and October 15, 2023.

The defendant was caught during an operation carried out in Kyrenia on October 15, 2023, and during the immigration check, it was determined that she remained in the country without a residence permit from May 20, 2021 until the day she was caught.

Stating that drug crimes are becoming increasingly common and endangering the peace of society and the health of future generations, the judge stated that they cannot tolerate those who commit such crimes adding that she committed these crimes while without a residence permit.

Noting that the defendant spread the drugs by giving them to unidentified persons, the judge explained that they considered these issues as aggravating factors against her.

After evaluating all the facts as a whole, the court sentenced the defendant to 3 years in prison.