Cyprus’ Drug Law Enforcement Unit has seized more than 6.5kg of dried poppy pods in a new series of operations targeting the import of narcotic substances through courier parcels.
Police said the checks were carried out on Thursday morning in the Famagusta and Paphos districts, as part of wider efforts to identify people receiving drugs through courier companies.
In the Famagusta district, two men aged 35 and 30 were arrested after officers found parcels containing dried poppy pods with a total gross weight of 4.45kg.
According to police, the 35-year-old had collected a parcel from a courier company at around 10.20am. A search by Drug Squad officers found seven packages inside, containing dried poppy pods with a total gross weight of 1.4kg. He was arrested for an offence committed in the presence of officers.
A subsequent search at his home in the Famagusta district led to the discovery of another parcel containing the same substance, with a gross weight of 1.45kg. Further checks found that he was living illegally in the Republic of Cyprus.
A short time later, a 30-year-old man who had also collected a parcel from the same courier company was stopped for checks. Officers found a parcel in his possession containing dried poppy pods with a gross weight of 1.6kg. He was also arrested.
A third parcel containing the same substance, with a gross weight of 1.6kg, was later found at the same courier company.
The two men are expected to appear before Famagusta District Court on Friday morning for remand proceedings.
In a separate case linked to a parcel that arrived at Larnaca Airport, police said evidence emerged against a 38-year-old resident of Paphos. The parcel contained half a kilo of dried poppy pods.
The 38-year-old was later located riding his motorcycle in Paphos and was stopped for checks. Officers found one gram of powder in his possession, believed to have come from dried poppy pods. He was arrested and placed in custody.
He is expected to appear before Paphos District Court on Friday morning for a remand hearing.
Police said that, in recent days, targeted Drug Squad operations have led to the seizure of more than 58kg of the substance and the arrest of 13 people.
The Drug Law Enforcement Unit said its operations to identify and combat the import, trafficking and sale of narcotic substances are continuing across Cyprus.
