Three arrests for trafficking poppy bulbs via courier
Police operations in Ammochostos and Paphos uncovered more than 6.5 kilograms of dried poppy bulbs that had been sent via courier companies. Three people were taken into custody.
Three arrests for trafficking poppy bulbs via courier
Coordinated police operations in areas of free Ammochostos and Paphos led today to the discovery of significant quantities of dried poppy bulbs, which had been sent in parcels via courier companies.
In the first case, a 35-year-old man collected a parcel from a courier station in the Ammochostos area at 10:20 in the morning. When authorities examined the contents, they found it contained seven parcels with dried plant material, with a total weight of 1,400 grammes. In a search carried out immediately afterwards at the suspect's residence, an additional package with similar contents was found, weighing 1,450 grammes. The arrested man is being held in custody and preliminary investigation revealed that he is illegally present on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
Around the same time, a second suspect, aged 30, who had previously received another parcel from the same station, was stopped for inspection. Police officers found in his possession a package containing 1,600 grammes of dried bulbs. This man was also arrested in flagrante delicto.
At the same courier station, another parcel was found containing 1,600 grammes of the same material, which had not yet been collected.
The two men from Ammochostos are expected to appear tomorrow before the local district court for detention orders to be issued against them.
In a separate incident in Paphos, police officers spotted a 38-year-old riding a motorcycle on a city road. During inspection, they found in his possession one gramme of powder allegedly derived from dried poppy bulbs. His arrest resulted from information regarding a parcel that arrived at Larnaca airport containing 500 grammes of the same material. The suspect is being held and will be brought tomorrow before Paphos district court.
During recent days, UCAN operations resulted in the discovery of more than 58 kilogrammes of the substance in question and the arrest of 13 people in total.
Source: Philenews