Appeals court upholds six-year sentence for synthetic drug possession

The Cyprus Court of Appeal has upheld a six-year prison sentence for a man convicted of possessing large quantities of plant material impregnated with synthetic drugs for the purpose of supply. The ruling confirms the initial decision by the Larnaca Criminal Court, which rejected the defendant's appeal against both his conviction and the length of his sentence.

The case dates back to July 5, 2016, when authorities discovered 1,117.1 grams of plant material laced with 5F-AMB and FUB-AMB, as well as 5.7 grams containing AB-FUBINACA and FUB-AMB, inside a rented apartment. Evidence presented at trial established that the defendant had rented the premises in 2014 for 300 euros per month, continuing payments until April 2016.

The initial court had imposed a six-year sentence for possession with intent to supply and a six-month sentence for the illegal possession of the secondary smaller quantity, with the terms ordered to run concurrently. The court also accounted for time already served in pre-trial detention, finalizing the legal process for these specific offenses.