A 24-year-old man has been remanded in custody for two days after being arrested at Tymbou (Ercan) airport in northern Cyprus for allegedly transporting four embryos in his luggage.
According to Turkish Cypriot media reports, the man was attempting to travel abroad when the embryos were discovered during checks at the airport. He was arrested on suspicion of violating legislation concerning the transplantation of human cells, tissues and organs.
The incident took place yesterday, and the suspect appeared today before the district 'court' in north Nicosia, which issued a two-day detention order.
Embryos seized
The court heard that the embryos were stored in four separate tubes inside a special container labelled “Life Pack” and bearing a reference number.
Investigators said the embryos had been obtained from an IVF clinic operating in northern Nicosia without authorisation from the relevant authorities. The embryos were seized as evidence.
The police investigator in charge of the case told the court that the suspect had given a voluntary statement to authorities.
Source: CNA
