The new drugs that made their appearance in our country this year rang a bell in YKAN, while the immediate passage of the bills for the surveillance of telephone conversations is requested so that the Service also has this weapon against smugglers.
Already, Cyprus has been filled with poppies, since a total of about 57 kilos have been identified throughout Cyprus, while the most dangerous is liquid cannabis which is not easily detected and has serious consequences. The Anti-Drug Service estimates that Indians are behind the repeated imports through courier companies, which is why more than seven people have been arrested throughout Cyprus. Behind them there are various networks that channel drugs in a specific way. Yesterday, searches were carried out in all cities and another about 35 kilograms of drugs of the type of sleepy or sleepy poppy were found. These drugs are sent to Cyprus via Austria or Germany. It is noteworthy that such drugs have not been detected by YKAN for many years, since the main drugs trafficked are cannabis and cannabis resin. Users boil these drugs and then drink the preparation, as a result of which they have no control over themselves.
As the commander of YKAN, Christos Andreou, told "F", the new types of drugs are being attempted to be imported and trafficked by dealers because they believe that they will not be detected, since the members of the Service are looking for other types of illegal substances. However, as he said, the members of YKAN are trained to detect any type of drug as well as to thoroughly investigate anyone who arouses suspicion or there is information that he will try to bring illegal substances. Mr. Andreou also referred to the issue of phone surveillance, saying that Cyprus is perhaps the only country in Europe that does not have the weapon of surveillance at its disposal so that it can dismantle drug trafficking rings. It is for this reason that many times instead of arresting those responsible, the traffickers are arrested. However, YKAN has managed to put in prison several people who are considered the heads of networks.
The commander of YKAN stressed that the monitoring of the telecommunications data of people involved in organized crime could contribute decisively to YKAN operations. He said that most drug-related cases start with information that reaches the Police and investigations can take months. He stressed that with the monitoring of telecommunications data, the time for collecting information could be drastically reduced.
One of the most worrying facts of this year is the doubling of the quantities of cocaine detected and seized by members of the Anti-Drug Service. From 30 kg in the first half of last year, we reached 72 kg this year, which is attributed to the efforts of traffickers to import large quantities of drugs with little effort, thus reducing the possibility of them being detected, while profit is maximized.
As far as the problem in general is concerned, the data and hypotheses show that drugs have spread everywhere, even in schools, and the struggle that is being waged is unequal. The rapid increase in the quantities discovered each year shows that the problem is growing, while it seems that the field of prevention has failed. Indicative of the magnitude of the problem is that every year almost a thousand drivers are found behind the wheel, while they have previously used drugs. In addition to repression, YKAN also has work to play in relation to prevention, through lectures in schools, camps and elsewhere, while more than 350 young people are referred to programs every year for rehabilitation.
Seven arrests for poppy
The operations of the YKAN in recent days have been unstoppable to dismantle circuits that imported dried poppy pods of the type of sleeping length.
Initially, five men aged 20, 22, 23, 27 and 28 were arrested. It is noted that one of the arrested, aged 22, was already in custody in connection with another similar case.
From the examinations that followed, it was found that two of the suspects, aged 27 and 28, resided illegally on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus. The arrested are expected to be brought before the courts today for the issuance of detention orders. Yesterday, new operations were carried out in Paphos and Famagusta where another five kilograms of the same drugs were found and two more persons were arrested.
