Man caught with 1.2 Kilos of cannabis in Lefkosa

A man who was arrested in relation to the seizure of approximately 1.2 kilos of cannabis during a police operation called ‘Grey Wolf’ in Lefkosia on Friday was brought before a court on Saturday. 

The suspect, a Turkish Cypriot identified only O.K, 33 was brought before a Lefkosia district court on Saturday on charges of “Importing, Possessing, and Distributing Illegal Narcotic Substances (Cannabis)“.

Police told the court that the suspect was caught with approximately 1.2 kilograms of a substance believed to be cannabis at around 2.30 pm on Friday July 2, 2024 on Dr. Fazil Küçük Boulevard in Lefkosia following a search conducted on the vehicle of the suspect by the Narcotics and Anti-Smuggling Directorate Teams (Operation Bozkurt).

During the investigation, the suspect revealed that he had previously made a delivery to a wanted person for 200 Euros on July 23 and was promised another 400 Euros for completing the current delivery. The suspect also admitted that he had obtained the goods from a wanted person at the Pila-Pergamos border checkpoint.

The police further stated that during the search of the vehicle, they seized $11,255, £4,000, €1,340, and 7,400 TL in cash for investigation purposes. 

They noted that the verification of the suspect’s voluntary statement is ongoing, along with an examination of camera recordings from the routes he had taken. 

The investigation is being conducted on a large scale to determine where and how the suspect obtained the drugs. Additionally, three individuals believed to be accomplices are being sought.

The judge ordered the suspect to be detained by the police for 3 days for further investigation.

*North Cyprus has become a hotspot for various illegal activities, including drug trafficking, according to the Organised Crime Index. The region’s instability and weak law enforcement have allowed organised crime groups to thrive. These groups frequently use sea routes to smuggle drugs, with cannabis being the most commonly trafficked. There is also growing concern about the increasing presence and use of synthetic drugs like methamphetamines. [Ed.]