Filenews 21 January 2023
More than a ton of cannabis and another 97 kilograms of cocaine have been seized by YKAN in the last four years, with the year just past seeing an increase in cannabis use mainly by young people.
The "harvest" of the Anti-Narcotics Service in 2022 was sufficiently satisfactory, a sign that the smugglers regrouped after the two years of the pandemic where there was a relative decline in the efforts to import drugs into our country. Last year, 348 kg of cannabis were seized compared to 240 in 2021, 212 in 2020 and 227 in 2019. Last year's quantities of cannabis are the largest seized in recent years and show exactly the increase in demand.
As far as cocaine, an extremely dangerous drug, is concern
ed, the situation is getting worse year by year. Last year, YKAN removed 38 kg from the illegals, in 2021 another five kg, as in 2020, while in 2019 the largest amount of cocaine was seized, reaching 49 kg. Seizures of synthetic drugs, especially methamphetamine, are on the rise, as last year 4 kg and 356g were seized, in 2021 another 3.7 kg, while previously a few hundred grams were seized. As Stelios Sergidis, deputy commander of YKAN, told "F", last year there was an increase in cannabis use among people aged 15-34, while at the same time it was possible to arrest people who were targeted by the Service and who played an important role in serious and organized crime.At the same time, YKAN's strategic goal for 2023, according to Mr. Sergidis, is to further beat the import and trafficking of drugs as well as the arrest of large traffickers. The main entrances of drugs are still airports and ports, as well as package shipments by mail or through courier companies.
As for the youngsters who entered under treatment programs, last year 244 people aged 13-24 were referred. These individuals were drug users and were treated as health workers rather than criminals. Also, several people sought direct help from the YKAN without being involved in any case. According to the deputy commander of this key agency, Cyprus follows Europe, where there is a pan-European increase in drug trafficking and use. That is why our country through the early warning system is informed or informed about the appearance of new drugs. Indicatively, 58 new substances were identified in 2022.
Regarding the products containing the substance CBD and sold in stores, Mr. Sergidis said that these are pharmaceutical products and need a license from the Pharmaceutical Services for their sale. As far as medical cannabis is concerned, the preparation of relevant regulations is expected before the relevant law passed by the Parliament comes into operation, which is why its disposal is illegal at the moment.
