Filenews 12 September 2024
Drugs reaching almost half a tonne were seized this year by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the most worrying thing is that new substances are appearing on the market, even in a form that poses a death risk to children.
According to YKAN data, until yesterday a total of 445 kilos of drugs of various substances had been seized, starting with cannabis, while synthetic drugs are increasingly found on the streets with increased quantities.
What particularly worries the Agency is the fact that two new substances have been detected this year in Cyprus through seizures, which is why the Anti-Service is intensifying its efforts not to channel them to users.
As the commander of YKAN, Stelios Aristidou, told "F", particular concerns this year are caused by the new substances found in various packages in the form of gummies or biscuits.
In this form, he said, it is easy for a child to consume it when he finds it in front of him. It is, as he said, a new semi-synthetic drug substance, that of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) which has appeared worldwide in the last two years and is now considered illegal as of February 2022 and is classified in the class B category, ie like cannabis.
Also this year, as the commander of the YKAN points out, a new type of drug in the form of grass is identified, cathine, which should be used by the user in a short period of time, as it is not kept for a long period.
Mr. Aristidou spoke about record quantities of drugs detected this year, which shows that there is effective management of the information received by the YKAN and assured that efforts are continuous to identify drugs before they reach users.
"Our efforts," he noted, "are continuous and are being made to prevent drugs from reaching users, with all the consequences that entail."
Middle East Passage
A major headache for YKAN is also the routes followed by smugglers that are constantly changing. Traffickers are constantly inventing new ways to channel quantities of drugs from production points to different countries, including Cyprus. According to data, until last year, several routes started from Spain and Greece, but initially had longer starting points.
Regarding the situation this year with the routes for transporting drugs to our country, the commander of the Anti-Narcotics Agency said that in addition to the usual, that is, Latin American countries through Europe, now there seems to be a new route, that of the Middle East.
He added that it has been noted through cases discovered that drugs are coming through Dubai. The competent Service monitors all developments and is in contact with other similar Services of foreign countries for coordination and exchange of information.
Also, the ways drugs are shipped are constantly changing, either by sending packages to the post office or courier companies, or by using people – steamers who are above suspicion, or camouflaged in a container.
Mr. Aristidou stressed that every year new drugs appear worldwide so that they are not detected, while the fortunate thing is that the new substance – fentanyl – that reaps lives in the US has not come to Cyprus. He said there were 130,000 deaths from this substance in America last year.
It is noted that YKAN has open communication with other Services of the European Union and third countries, in order to be able to prevent the import of drugs into Cyprus that come through the legal channels of the Republic, as well as through packages or through the occupied areas. The priority of the YKAN remains the arrest of drug dealers-traffickers on the one hand, but also the referral of users to treatment centers on the other.
Near-daily drug seizures and operations by members of the agency have brought to light around 600 cases, with many involving large quantities. According to Mr. Aristidou, although people who deal drugs are arrested and convicted, however, new faces are coming because of what they believe is easy profit and the fact that they imitate behaviour abroad.
359 kg of cannabis in nine months
The quantities of drugs that YKAN detects almost daily on the streets are frightening. As far as cannabis alone is concerned, 359 kilos have been detected this year and it is estimated that the quantities detected are very small compared to those circulating without detection.
According to the data, from 1/1/2024 until September 9, YKAN has seized 359 kg of cannabis and 391g, 12 cannabis plants, one kilogram and 340g. cannabis resin, 11kg of cocaine (with the 2.5kg found yesterday in Limassol), 607g methamphetamine, 458g and 609 tablets ecstasy, 870ml tetrahydrocannabinol, 29kg and 195g. hexahydrocannabinol (in gummies and biscuits), 42kg and 950g kathinis, 3.5gr. heroin, 5.5g ketamine, 5,857 tablets of tramatol, 250g psilocivin, 178gr. amphetamine, 109 tablets of flunitrazepam, 100 tablets of promylomethynol, 9 papers impregnated with LSD, 25 vials and 120 tablets of doping substances, 60 tablets of methylphenidale and 1 kg and 438g. synthetic drugs.
All quantities refer to gross weight since they are weighed with their packaging, before being opened by the State Chemical Laboratory for scientific examinations.
Last year, the YKAN seized more than 462 kilograms of cannabis, 15 kilograms and 914 grams of cannabis resin, over 16 kilograms of cocaine and 8.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and other substances in smaller quantities. As the numbers show, cannabis is recording the most upward trends of all types of drugs and continues to be the number one drug of use.
Gate and airports
The YKAN in 2024 (1 January to 8 July 2024) dealt with 577 cases, of which 23 were very serious. According to the data, 7 cases were examined following the detection of large quantities of drugs at Cypriot airports, of which six at Larnaka airport and one at Paphos airport.
