The Drug Law Enforcement Unit (YKAN) is continuing its investigation into almost 390kg of ketamine seized in Limassol, with evidence allegedly linking three suspects to successive shipments of the drug into Cyprus.
Three people remain in custody, a 50-year-old Palestinian man and an Israeli couple aged 53 and 51, after their remand orders were renewed for eight days. A second woman who had been arrested in connection with the investigation has been released.
The case involves almost 390kg of ketamine in total, as well as smaller quantities of other drugs.
Further 263kg found near Limassol port
Investigations carried out by YKAN since last week led officers to another substantial quantity of ketamine at a warehouse near Limassol port.
The warehouse was identified after the 50-year-old Palestinian suspect allegedly pointed investigators to the location from which he had collected the first quantities.
YKAN officers subsequently discovered another 263kg of ketamine on an imported pallet, packaged in the same manner as the earlier quantities.
The discovery substantially increased the total quantity of drugs under investigation in the same case.
The shipping documents for the consignment bear the 50-year-old's details and address. He also appears to have been the person who received the goods from the first two shipments.
Those shipments arrived in Cyprus on 22 July 2026 and 12 August 2026, while the third and largest consignment, containing 263kg, arrived on 9 September 2026.
The 50-year-old's movements were also captured on CCTV, footage which is now in the possession of investigators and is being examined as part of the inquiry.
Suspect says he was to receive €5,000
During questioning, the 50-year-old initially denied any involvement but subsequently admitted, according to the report, that he knew the containers held drugs, although he claimed not to know what type.
He allegedly told investigators that he collected the containers from the warehouse and stored them until he was instructed where to take them.
According to his account, he was to receive €5,000 for the job.
He has, however, denied involvement with the separate 263kg quantity, claiming he was unaware both of its existence and its arrival in Cyprus.
Shipping records link 51-year-old suspect
Police investigations also indicate possible involvement by the 51-year-old Israeli woman.
According to the evidence gathered so far, she was the person communicating with the transport company, while her details were also listed as the contact information provided to the shipping company responsible for importing the goods into Cyprus.
Police said those details correspond with the information registered for the 51-year-old in their systems.
Invoices found on 53-year-old's phone
Investigators also examined the mobile phone of the 53-year-old Israeli man.
Police allegedly found photographs of invoices relating to the two earlier shipments that arrived on 22 July and 12 August, both of which were received by the 50-year-old Palestinian suspect.
The phone also allegedly contained numerous photographs relating to various drugs and weighing scales.
Investigators further identified internet search activity concerning warehouses belonging to a specific company in a European country.
According to the investigation, the goods from all three shipments were delivered to those warehouses before subsequently being transported to Cyprus.
YKAN is continuing its investigation into the three consignments, the suspects' respective alleged roles and the circumstances surrounding the importation and storage of the almost 390kg of ketamine.
