Court rules prima facie case against Giorgos Christodoulou in drug retrial

On October 16, 2026, the Nicosia Criminal Court ruled that a prima facie case has been established against Giorgos Christodoulou, known as Zavrantonas, regarding his alleged involvement in a 2019 case involving the possession and distribution of 15 kilograms of cocaine. The court’s decision was unanimous, and the accused has now been called to provide a defense, with his legal team indicating that he will make an unsworn statement.

This proceeding is a retrial necessitated by a May 2026 decision from the Court of Appeal, which overturned a previous 22-year prison sentence handed down in December 2022 due to issues regarding the composition of the original court. The central element of the prosecution's case remains the testimony of Giannis Andreou, also known as Maronas, who was previously convicted in the same case. Andreou later provided a new statement identifying Christodoulou as a key figure in the operation.

Following the court's ruling, the trial will continue with the presentation of the defense's case. The proceedings are taking place before a newly constituted Criminal Court to ensure procedural integrity after the previous errors were identified by the appellate court.