Student sentenced to 7 years in prison by a north Cyprus court for drug crime

A 28-year-old foreign national who is a student in north Cyprus has been sentenced to 7 years in prison after he was found guilty of drug crimes by a north Cyprus court.

The judgement against the accused DAA was announced by the Lefkosia criminal high court on Wednesday, March, 20.

The accused was arrested during a drug operation at a residence in Gönyeli on July 19, 2023 and was charged to court on charges of "Illegal Drug Importation, Receiving, Giving, Saving" and "Prevention of Laundering Proceeds of Crime",

Police said he imported drugs weighing 300 grams and 622 grams and 14 MDMA pills from the south of Cyprus on two different dates. 

At the time of his arrest, the defendant admitted that he imported another 300 grams of drugs and sold 290 grams of them. Additionally, 28,690 Turkish Liras and 20 Euros in cash were found in the defendant's house. 

Delivering the judgement on Wednesday, the chief judge announced that they found the defendant guilty of the cases brought against him and convicted him, in the light of his own confession and the presented facts and indications. 

The judge pointed out that the crime for which the defendant was convicted was a widespread crime that had a very negative impact on public health. He emphasized that the crime of importing and supplying synthetic drugs is a very serious crime that carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years, and the crime of laundering proceeds of crime is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

"The number of people who come to our country under the name of education and commit drug crimes is increasing" the judge said, adding that it is not possible for the court to tolerate those who commit such crimes. 

He said that it was not possible to evaluate the defendant's lawyer's statement that he sold the drugs to foreign people in favor of the defendant, and noted that there was no difference whether it was sold to local or foreign people, and that the people were poisoned. 

Evaluating all the issues in favor and against the defendant, the judge announced that they unanimously sentenced the defendant to 7 years in prison.