Cypriot drug enforcement operations lead to multiple arrests and record seizures
Cypriot law enforcement, specifically the Drug Law Enforcement Unit (YKAN), recently conducted several high-profile operations across Cyprus. In one operation, 20.78 kilograms of Papaver somniferum poppy pods were seized across Nicosia, Limassol, and Larnaca, resulting in the arrest of five men. Two of these individuals were found to be residing illegally in Cyprus. Separately, in the Famagusta district, authorities arrested a fourth suspect, aged 35, following the seizure of over six kilograms of cannabis resin and one kilogram of synthetic KIEF from a farm on June 20, 2026. Three other men, aged 49, 37, and 28, remain in custody regarding this case. Additionally, a 65-year-old American citizen was arrested at Larnaca Airport after four kilograms of liquid cocaine were discovered in his luggage inside cosmetic containers. Officials are concerned about the emergence of sophisticated substances and the possibility of local processing laboratories. Data for the first half of 2026 reveals a significant rise in drug seizures, including 71.5 kilograms of cocaine, a 130% increase compared to 2025.