Filenews 1 February 2025 - by Michalis Hadjivassilis
The Drug Enforcement Administration has seized and will be seizing assets worth more than €1.1 million over a five year period, taking away an important weapon – that of financial resources – from smugglers.
The role of YKAN is not limited only to combating drug trafficking, but is threefold, since: In addition to identifying quantities of drugs and arresting traffickers, it also conducts financial investigations, depriving traffickers of money and property obtained illegally, while at the same time it performs a role of prevention and social intervention.
According to data provided to "F" by the Deputy Commander of Command and Operations of YKAN, Christos Andreou, since 2020, when a special unit was established and operates, 83 financial investigations were conducted concerning individuals who either had information about illicit enrichment due to drug trafficking, or were arrested for major cases.
According to the data, assets worth more than €1,100,000 have been frozen and confiscated to date. These concern motor vehicles, cash, real estate and movable property and money deposited in bank accounts. Of the above amount, more than €600,000 have been or will be confiscated, i.e. they will become the property of the state. Specifically, assets worth €250,000 have already been confiscated by court decisions, while the rest of the seized assets are expected to be confiscated in 2025. The reason they have not yet been confiscated is because pending cases are expected to be heard in the Courts and orders for seizure or confiscation accordingly will be issued.
According to Mr. Andreou, financial investigations are always carried out in cooperation with MOKAS, whose members act in the Courts, in order to secure the relevant blocking orders first and then confiscation. The same officer made it clear that at the same time, a court that has before it evidence derived from the contraband of drugs, can order their seizure.
Financial investigations are carried out at the Land Registry Department, the Income Tax, commercial banks and elsewhere to find out what was obtained from the person under investigation and how. As explained, when someone is arrested for a major drug trafficking case, then the procedures for checking their finances are activated. Economic research can also be carried out on the basis of information on illicit enrichment of persons who are either under investigation for drugs or simply have information that the wealth was obtained from drug trafficking.
At the moment, a large number of vehicles are in the possession of the Police and the outcome of court cases is awaited, as well as the cash found by the YKAN is at the discretion of the Court to say that they are confiscated, if satisfactory explanations for their acquisition are not given.
257 people were sent in 2024 to programs
Apart from its prosecuting role, YKAN plays an equally important role, that of prevention and intervention.
The Prevention Office of the Service undertakes the planning and implementation of actions and events of universal prevention, as well as focused prevention in vulnerable groups of the population, mainly in the National Guard and secondary school students, such as the Technical School and the Preparatory Apprenticeship.
According to relevant information, the actions aim to inform and sensitize students about the issue, as well as to empower them by developing important life skills and adopting healthy choices. In addition, the Office of Prevention implements special programs and workshops addressed to parents, which aim to support them in developing important skills, such as handling conflicts, agreeing boundaries and enhancing children's self-confidence.
During 2024, the interventions of the Office of Prevention and Social Intervention of YKAN focused on target groups recorded in the Strategic Plan of the Police. In the context of selective prevention, workshops were held for students of Technical Schools, students of Preparatory Apprenticeship and Evening Schools. The topics addressed by the actions are: The prevention of the consequences of illegal addictive substances, the demystification of cannabis use, the notification of the social service of YKAN as well as the telephone line 1498. Officers of the Service receive named or anonymous phone calls, give advice to parents on dealing with emergencies with their children, and send help when needed.
In addition, the "Cooperation Protocol for the prevention and handling of illegal addictive substances at school between the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, the Police through the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Education and the Cyprus Addictions Authority" is observed, for the management of issues related to addictive substances in Secondary General Education and Secondary Technical-Vocational Education and Training schools. For this purpose, in each school unit, a police officer of the YKAN has been appointed as a "contact point-liaison" to facilitate and coordinate the effectiveness of delinquency at a preventive-deterrent level. The associations (members of YKAN) deal with information concerning drug possession and trafficking offenses in schools and are available and in direct communication 24 hours a day, if needed.
At the same time, the Social Service of YKAN operates as the largest referral body to state treatment centers and non-governmental organizations in the field of drug addiction. It is considered a key factor in the organization, conduct and development of the Cooperation Protocol governing the procedure for the referral of young people arrested by the Cyprus Police to treatment and counselling centers. In addition, it handles requests for assistance for people who contact the 1498 hotline of YKAN.
The Social Intervention officers of the Service are graduates of the Police Academy and holders of degrees in social sciences, properly trained for the implementation of the protocol procedure and are bound in the exercise of their duties to behave in an ethical manner, in accordance with the provisions of the Processing of Personal Data (Protection of Individuals) Law of 2001.
During the year 2024, the Social Intervention Officers of YKAN referred to various treatment centers 257 people all over Cyprus, 192 beneficiaries and 65 people of their supportive environment.
Seizures of 734 kg for 2024
Last year, YKAN proceeded with record seizures of drugs, which shows that smugglers do not stop despite the arrests and severe sentences imposed recently by the Courts.
Specifically, in 2024, the largest quantities of cannabis were seized, reaching 617 kg compared to 544 in 2023. Also in 2024, 54kg of cocaine was detected compared to 24kg in 2023. In addition, last year 34 kilos of cathin, a drug that first appears in Cyprus, were found and it is being examined whether it was for domestic consumption or Cyprus was used as a transit station.
In 2024, 609 ecstasy tablets were also detected compared to 1753 in 2023, while 705 tramadol tablets were detected in 2023 compared to 5857 last year. Finally, in 2024, 29kg and 288g had been identified. drug hexahydrocannabinol in gummies and biscuits, which is also the first time this has happened. The Department of Customs and Excise played a decisive role in many seizures, especially at Larnaka airport.
