Student found not guilty for drug crime re-arrested for illegal residency

An individual who was arrested and detained on alleged drug charges was found to be innocent of the claims and rearrested for living in north Cyprus without a resident permit.

The individual, M.A, 22, a Sudanese student in the country along with four others were identified and arrested on Thursday October 10 after they were found to be in possession of drugs during a search carried out on a rental car parked in the Küçük Kaymaklı area of ​​Lefkosia.

They were brought to court on the same day and a detention order issued against them.

Police said they were found in a vehicle and that two separate packages of cannabis-type drugs weighing 60 grams were found in a box in the back seat of the car.

One of the suspect admitted to the crime.

M.A who was brought back to court again on Thursday October 17 was acquitted of drug charges after it was determined that he had no connection with the issue.

But he was rearrested for living in north Cyprus without a resident permit.

Police said immigration checks carried out on him determined that he had been in the TRNC without a residence permit for 316 days since November 29, 2023.

The suspect is said to have surrendered to the police upon this determination. 

Noting that the investigation was completed, the police requested that he be sent to prison for a period not exceeding 20 days.