Nicosia police arrest 22-year-old in drug smuggling operation involving taxi and courier parcels

A 22-year-old man was arrested in Nicosia on October 29, 2026, following a sophisticated drug trafficking investigation involving the Anti-Drugs Unit (YKAN) and Customs authorities. The case began on October 26, when a package arriving from the United States at Larnaca Airport, allegedly containing Lego bricks, was found to hold over 2.5 kilograms of cannabis. Authorities initiated a controlled delivery operation, replacing the drugs with decoys to track the recipient.

The suspect hired a 62-year-old taxi driver to collect the parcel in Engomi, leading to the driver’s initial arrest. The taxi driver was later released after investigations confirmed he was unaware of the package's illicit contents. Following his arrest, the 22-year-old suspect was found in possession of additional cannabis—bringing the total seized amount to approximately 6.4 kilograms—along with 4,330 euros in cash and five mobile phones. On October 30, the Nicosia District Court issued an eight-day detention order against the suspect, who faces charges including illegal importation, possession with intent to supply, conspiracy to commit a felony, and money laundering. Police investigations remain ongoing as officials examine potential links to prior shipments.