YKAN is on alert after 993 sheets of A4 paper were found yesterday at the home of a 68-year-old man in Larnaca, for which there are indications that they are impregnated with narcotic substances. This is the largest case of its kind ever investigated by the Anti-Drug Service in Cyprus. Indicative of the seriousness of the case is the fact that about 300,000 doses of drugs would end up on the market, with the traffickers reaping about €1.5 million.
"This is indeed the most serious case of its kind, which emerged after information we obtained. The fact that what we identified corresponds to about 300,000 doses that were prevented from being trafficked in Cypriot society is the most important thing for us," the Governor of YKAN, Christos Andreou, told Filenews, indicating that there are serious indications "that it may be the main source that supplies these drugs to various places". He noted that "for us it is a significant success" and that "the case is being examined with all seriousness". Asked to answer whether the contribution of Interpol and Europol will be requested, given that the drugs seem to have been imported from abroad, he replied in the affirmative. "We will also work with similar services in foreign countries in order to identify where this quantity came from and the most important thing is to find out where they would end up," noted Mr. Andreou.
Such impregnated sheets of paper are usually in the possession of persons detained in the Central Prisons and it is for this reason that it is being investigated whether part of the huge amount found would end up in convicts or undertrials. However, the investigations are also turning in other directions. According to information from Filenews, each sheet of paper can produce up to 300 doses of drugs. The main substance identified is a synthetic drug that belongs to the category of cannabinoids called MDMB. It is a chemically manufactured substance that is much more potent than cannabis, with dangerous psychoactive effects.
These leaves are either imported from abroad and impregnated in Cyprus, or they come ready-made, i.e. impregnated. They are not detectable, nor do they have an odour. In this case, the information available in YKAN, as mentioned above, is that they came from abroad and it is being investigated from which country, since so far what the 68-year-old claimed has not helped the course of the investigations.
A 68-year-old Greek Cypriot, who has never previously been under the radar of the Anti-Drug Service, is in custody for the case. The suspect was arrested yesterday after a coordinated operation by YKAN and YDAP at his home in Larnaca.
His arrest was preceded by a search of his home under a court warrant, where the 993 sheets of A4 paper were found, for which there are indications that they were impregnated with controlled drugs (narcotic substances).
The offenses of conspiracy to commit a felony, illegal supply of a controlled drug by another person, illegal possession of a controlled drug and illegal possession of a controlled drug for the purpose of supplying to other persons are being investigated against the arrested. The suspect was brought before the Larnaca District Court and his detention was requested for a period of six days.
