Filenews 3 January 2023
A total of 340 kg of cannabis, 38 kg of cocaine, 3.5 kg of ecstasy pills and 4.5 kg of methamphetamine were seized in Cyprus in 2022, Stelios Sergides, Deputy Governor of YKAN, said, adding that the number of narcotics has increased last year, compared to the last five years.
As he explained, "from the data we have until November 30, 2022, there are increased seizures of all drugs, compared to previous years. Specifically, 340 kg of cannabis, more than one kilogram of cannabis resin, 38 kg of cocaine, 3.5 kg and 156 ecstasy pills, about 4.5 kg of methamphetamine, 1.5 kg of synthetic substances and smaller amounts of other substances have been seized."
He added that "compared to the last five years, the number of drugs detected in Cyprus in 2022 has increased. Large quantities of drugs came to our island mainly through Larnaca airport, postal parcels and the port of Limassol."
In response to a relevant question, Mr. Sergidis expressed satisfaction with the action of the YKAN as he explained that "as the Police we set the goal of seizing drugs before they are placed on the market, that is, drug traffickers and traffickers. Importantly, people who played an important role in drug trafficking who appear to be involved in other forms of crime were arrested."
To another question, the Deputy Governor of YKAN replied that "the largest quantities of drugs came to Cyprus from third countries through Central Europe" and added that "based on studies carried out, it seems that in Cyprus the number of cannabis users has increased".
Meanwhile, regarding the issue with the detection of drug packages on beaches in the free province of Famagusta, Mr. Sergides said that the Office's investigations are continuing with the aim of identifying where these packages have been washed up since December 20 on beaches in Protaras.
"So far the sea has washed up about 42kg of cannabis resin and on the matter we have informed the neighbouring countries and asked them to let us know whether they are facing similar incidents on their own beaches," he said.
He continued, "a message has been sent before Christmas to Interopol and Europol to be informed but also to tell us whether they know anything about the case. To date we have no response from these two organizations and we are in the process of investigating where the drugs came from."
He also said that "we do not know who or why they threw the drugs into the sea. However, we speculate that this was done at sea, that is, by a ship passing through our area and the packages washed up on beaches of both the occupied areas of Cyprus and the free province of Famagusta".
To a relevant question, Mr. Sergidis replied that "specifically on December 21, 5 kg of cannabis resin was found on a beach in the area of Protaras, on the 22nd of the month 29 kg, on the 30th of December 3 kg, on the 31st of the month 2 kg and on the 2nd of January of the new year 3 kg".
He also noted that "with the aim of detecting possibly other packages of drugs, the coordinated patrols of the Police on the beaches of the free province of Famagusta have been increased".
CNA
