A 20-year-old man was arrested on arrival at Larnaca Airport as part of a police investigation into the smuggling of nearly 43 kilograms of khat, a plant-based narcotic substance, into Cyprus. The drugs had been discovered and seized at the airport in February 2024. The suspect arrived on a flight from abroad and was arrested under a court warrant.
Suitcases left unclaimed at the airport
According to police, the large quantity of drugs was discovered on 29 February 2024 inside two suitcases that had remained unclaimed at Larnaca Airport. The luggage had arrived from abroad on 25 February but was never collected by anyone.
Συνελήφθη 20χρονος για την εισαγωγή 43 κιλών φυτικής ύλης καθίνης που διερευνά η ΥΚΑΝ. https://t.co/cUL4au3vGT pic.twitter.com/KhpXAvN8V5
— Αστυνομία Κύπρου (@Cyprus_Police) September 9, 2026
During the process of returning the suitcases to their country of origin, a joint operation by the Cyprus Police Narcotics Squad (YKAN) and the Customs Department led to a search of the luggage, in which a quantity of khat with a total gross weight of 42 kilograms and 950 grams was located and seized.
Suspect arrested under court warrant
As part of the investigation, a court warrant was secured for the arrest of a 20-year-old man. The suspect arrived at Larnaca Airport yesterday on a flight from abroad and was arrested under the warrant.
He appeared today before the Larnaca District Court, which issued an order remanding him in custody for five days.
The case is being investigated by the Larnaca District Office of YKAN.
