Drug enforcement operations in Cyprus lead to multiple arrests

Cypriot authorities have conducted two major anti-drug operations recently. On September 8, 2026, police arrested a 20-year-old man from Israel at Larnaca Airport in connection with a February 2024 case involving the importation of nearly 43 kilograms of khat. The narcotics were discovered in two abandoned suitcases that had arrived at the airport on February 25, 2024. The suspect, who had been on a police watch list, was apprehended while transiting through the airport and has been remanded in custody for five days by the Larnaca District Court.

Separately, in a coordinated operation involving YKAN and the Intelligence Analysis Service in Limassol, authorities arrested four individuals on September 12, 2026. This operation followed two days of surveillance and resulted in the discovery of a large quantity of cocaine, reportedly exceeding 100 kilograms according to some reports, hidden in paint cans at a residence. Investigations into both cases are currently ongoing as police examine potential links to larger criminal networks and international trafficking operations.