Appeals court orders retrial in 72kg cannabis case

On September 21, 2026, the Cyprus Court of Appeal unanimously overturned the conviction and sentencing of a Greek Cypriot man involved in a case concerning 72 kilograms of cannabis. The court ordered a retrial to be held before a different bench of the Criminal Court, citing a failure by the original trial court to properly advise the defendant on his options for providing evidence.

The original conviction was handed down by the Limassol Criminal Court on August 22, 2022. The defendant had been found guilty on five of six charges, including conspiracy to possess, illegal possession with intent to supply, and importation of a Class B controlled drug. The court had initially imposed an 18-year prison sentence for possession with intent to supply and a four-year sentence for drug importation, while opting not to issue separate penalties for the remaining charges. The case involved 72 kilograms of cannabis, including the unextracted resin.

Following the appellate ruling by judges M. Abiza, St. Christodoulidou-Messiou, and I. Stylianidou, the legal proceedings must now restart in the first-instance court to ensure the defendant’s right to a fair trial is fully upheld.