Filenews 7 December 2024
It may sound far-fetched, but the Drug Enforcement Administration's seizures this year are flirting with those in Latin America. If one considers that in a country with a population of less than a million, 785 kilograms of drugs were found in 11 months, then the parallel is not exaggerated.
We are talking about quantities approaching one tonne of drugs, which is outrageous for a small market like Cyprus. All this while last year, just under 600 kilograms of drugs were seized throughout the year. One has to consider that these are the quantities detected which, according to international statistics, account for 10-15% of what is actually imported.
The explanation given by the YKAN for the systematic increase in drug seizures is that smugglers prefer to attempt to import large quantities once rather than risk bringing small batches and exposing themselves each time to the risk of detection. At the same time, it is evident from the data that young people under the age of 35-40 choose to engage in this illegal business so that if they succeed they will have secured income for many years.
All this is now in everyday life and the fight of the Drug Service is continuous with significant successes that come either through information or through cooperation with foreign services.
The first substance in seizures is, of course, cannabis, which confirms the occasional surveys made in the general population, that the main drug they use in our country is cannabis. It is followed by cocaine, and there has been a gradual shift towards synthetic drugs such as methamphetamines over the last three to four years. As the deputy commander of YKAN and spokesman of the Service, Christos Andreou, told "F", this year, new types of drugs have been seized that had never appeared before in Cyprus. We are talking about 70 kg of drugs packed in biscuits or gummies, which could also be consumed by young people if they fell into their hands. They were, he explained, 30 kilograms of drugs packed in biscuits or gummies and 43 kilograms containing the drug kathin, which is found in grass and must be used in a short period of time.
According to the latest YKAN data, 659 kg and 678 grams of cannabis have been identified in 2024, compared to 538 throughout 2023. Also this year, 1,340 g was detected. cannabis resin, similar amount to last year. As for cocaine, seizures this year amounted to 54 kg, quite an increase compared to last year when they were 24 kg. The 54 kilos this year include the 30 kilos recently found in a container and the Combat Service estimates that they were not intended for the Cypriot market but were in transit to another location.
To these quantities must be added the 70 kg of drugs in biscuits and gummies mentioned above, while various drugs were seized, such as 655 grams of methamphetamine and 700 tablets of ecstasy.
As Mr. Andreou notes, this year there is an increase from last year's data. Already this year we exceeded the quantities seized by 207 kilos compared to last year, the YKAN officer stresses, adding that the effort made in its actions by its members, who work tirelessly for this purpose, is to focus mainly on traffickers to identify these large quantities of narcotic substances before they are channelled into the Cypriot market. According to estimates, this year's seizures may be the largest on record and the year is not yet over.
Known itineraries
At the same time, YKAN has proceeded to map the routes used by smugglers in order to import drugs into our country. The main gates of entry are the airports with the main one of Larnaca, the ports, parcel courier services, the post office and the occupied areas. The routes are constantly changing with Dubai often being used as a stopover before large quantities arrive here, while Greece, other European countries and countries in Asia and Latin America are the starting point for drug shipments.
In many cases, the Department of Customs and Excise also actively contributes to the seizures, especially at Larnaca airport, where people are often found who, for a fee, agree to carry large quantities of drugs, mainly cannabis, in their luggage, thus risking if they are detected to spend several years of their lives in prison. At the same time, YKAN is in an open line with foreign services, since the amount of seizures has aroused the interest of European services and not only. As Mr. Andreou mentioned, the Service is always on line with other relevant services either to provide information or to receive information in relation to drug trafficking. "Especially regarding the last case where we found 30 kilos of cocaine in a container in Larnaca, in this context we were in contact with other European countries in order to be able to identify the persons who tried to traffic these large quantities of narcotics.
1004 cases, 1065 arrests
According to YKAN data, from the beginning of the year until today, 1004 cases of possession or possession for the purpose of supply have been recorded, with 1065 persons arrested. Of these, 633 were Greek Cypriots and 432 foreigners.
At the same time, it is emphasized that the Courts in recent years, due to the increase in the phenomenon with the import of large quantities of drugs, impose increased prison sentences on people found guilty.
At the same time, YKAN has a very important work to demonstrate both in terms of prevention and treatment of addicted persons. On the basis of a protocol that has been operating in recent years, in case of arrest of young people with small quantities of drugs and there is no element of trafficking, then in consultation with the Attorney General, instead of judicial treatment, these people are sent to attend a rehabilitation program. They may be referred to their parents to be trained to be able to help their children. Whoever completes the program, then his case does not proceed criminally.
