Twenty-year-old arrested at Larnaca airport over 2024 drug trafficking case

Cypriot police arrested a 20-year-old man at Larnaca airport on September 8, 2026, in connection with a major drug trafficking investigation. The case pertains to the importation of approximately 43 kilograms of khat, which was seized by authorities in early 2024.

On February 25, 2024, two suitcases containing 42.95 kilograms of khat arrived at Larnaca airport from abroad but remained unclaimed. On February 29, 2024, during a routine check before returning the luggage to the country of origin, officers from the Drug Law Enforcement Unit (YKAN) and the Customs Department discovered the narcotics. The 20-year-old suspect was identified and detained following the issuance of a judicial warrant as part of the ongoing investigation into the illegal importation.

The authorities have been investigating the circumstances of the shipment for over two years. The suspect is now in custody, and further legal procedures will follow as the police continue their probe into the drug trafficking operation.