Criminal prosecution suspended for Limassol drug trafficking case suspect

On October 7, 2026, the Limassol Criminal Court granted a request by the Attorney General to suspend the criminal prosecution of an individual accused of involvement in an eight-kilogram cocaine trafficking case. The defendant, who had been in custody at the Central Prisons since his arrest in April, was initially named as the mastermind who directed the collection and storage of the drugs.

The case stems from an August 12, 2025, operation by the Anti-Drugs Unit (YKAN), which led to the discovery of the narcotics. A 46-year-old man, previously sentenced to ten years in prison for this offense on July 29, 2026, had initially agreed to testify as a prosecution witness against the now-released suspect after pleading guilty to the charges. However, the anticipated testimony did not proceed, leading to the sudden suspension of the proceedings against the second suspect by the prosecution.

The suspension of this case marks a significant legal development in the ongoing efforts of the Cypriot authorities to dismantle drug distribution networks identified in the 2025 investigation. With the Attorney General's decision, the specific criminal proceedings against the accused have been formally concluded by the court.