Filenews 9 September 2023
A new large quantity of cannabis was found at Larnaka airport in the luggage of a 24-year-old from Italy, who arrived in Cyprus from Madrid, via Zurich. The woman aroused the suspicion of a Customs and Excise officer and a check of her luggage found five nylon packages with about 9.5kg of cannabis
The young woman, who had never travelled to Cyprus before, refuses to cooperate with the police, claiming that she knows neither the suppliers of the drugs in Spain nor the recipients in Cyprus. The suspect claimed, according to information from police sources, that she was acting as an intermediary and that she would be informed in Cyprus to whom she would deliver the drugs. Yesterday, he was brought before the Larnaca District Court for illegal importation of drugs, possession of drugs and possession of drugs with intent to supply to other persons. The court ordered her detention for eight days.
This is one of the largest quantities of drugs seized recently at Larnaka airport. Europol will be informed of the case in order to identify drug traffickers in Spain, who have sent other large quantities to Cyprus in the past.
The YKAN, meanwhile, is continuing its investigation into a drug ring packaging drugs in cornflakes arriving from Canada. Within 15 days, in three separate cases in Paphos, Ayia Napa and Nicosia, more than 10kg of cannabis were found in cereal packets that arrived via the post office. It is noted that from the beginning of the year until September 7, the Anti-Narcotics Agency has seized almost 410 kilos of cannabis, as reported to "F" by the spokesman of the service, Stelios Sergidis.
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Police, after cooperating with authorities in Austria and the Netherlands, arrested a 55-year-old woman in connection with an ongoing case of internet fraud, extortion of money by false representations, and money laundering.
The 55-year-old was wanted by the authorities of the Republic, who issued a European arrest warrant against her, following evidence that emerged during the investigation by the ICF of Larnaca of the case of online fraud. She was found in the Netherlands on June 25 last year and arrested under the European warrant, while after a court procedure, the country's authorities approved the request for her extradition to Cyprus.
Members of the Larnaca ICF went to the Netherlands from where yesterday they escorted the suspect by plane to Larnaka airport. Upon their arrival in Cyprus early in the morning today, they proceeded to arrest her with a court warrant.
The fraud was allegedly committed in August, 2019, against a company based in Larnaca. A relevant complaint to the ICF of Larnaca was submitted in September, 2019, by the company's Management.
According to the complaint, in order to purchase products from a company based in a European country, the Cypriot company made a bank in Cyprus, a transfer of more than 21 thousand euros to a bank based in Austria, as requested via e-mail. However, it was subsequently found that both the bank account to which the transfer was made, as well as the e-mail received by the Cypriot company for the payment of the money to the suspicious account, did not belong to the company from which the Cypriot company ordered products.
After examinations carried out by the ICF of Larnaca, in cooperation with the Austrian authorities, based on a European investigation order, it was found that the beneficiary of the suspicious bank account in Austria is the 55-year-old.
The coordination of cooperation and communication with the authorities of Austria and the Netherlands was carried out by the Directorate of European Union – International Police Cooperation – WEU-DAS, of the Police Headquarters.
The ICF of Larnaca continues the examinations.
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Police issued two arrest warrants in connection with the attack and beating of two French sailors shortly after midnight yesterday in Limassol.
They are two people aged 38 and 40, who were sought but not located and are therefore wanted.
According to the ICF of Limassol, the complainants, aged 21 and 25, reported that they were attacked by unknown persons while walking in the coastal area with their friends, despite the Limassol marina.
The two youths went to a private clinic where they were given First Aid and were detained as a precaution, mainly with facial injuries.
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