Man caught dealing in drugs sent to prison

A man who was arrested and remanded in custody for illegally possessing narcotics in Lefkosia was brought back to court again on Tuesday.

The suspect identified as M.A.O, a Pakistan national and a resident of Hamitköy was arrested by the police at around 6:00pm on Sept. 26 after drug was found at his residence following a search carried out by teams from the Crime Prevention Branch of the Lefkosia Police Department.

The suspect was taken to court on charges of drug possession.

Police said during the search, approximately 23 grams of a substance believed to be cannabis, a rolled cigarette containing cannabis mixed with tobacco, a precision scale showing traces of drug residue, and various currencies—including 910 USD, 150 Euros, 70 British Pounds, and 16,700 Turkish Lira—were seized as evidence. These funds are suspected to have been acquired from drug sales. Following the discovery, the suspect was arrested, and an investigation commenced.

Police said the suspect admitted to purchasing the drugs for 500 Euros from an individual of African descent whose name he could not recall. 

Further inquiries revealed that the suspect had been residing in the country illegally for 535 days since April 16, 2023. The police officer requested that the suspect be held in custody during the trial.

The judge, upon reviewing the evidence presented, ordered the suspect to be remanded in prison for a duration of 20 days.