Nicosia, Cyprus. The defence in the retrial of Giorgos “Zavrantonas” Christodoulou on Tuesday suggested that narcotics presented as evidence may not be the same quantity seized by police during a 2019 raid. Christodoulou faces charges of importing 15 kilogrammes of cocaine with intent to sell.
Retrial proceedings
Christodoulou is being tried before Nicosia criminal court after the appeals court overturned his December 2022 conviction and 22-year prison sentence. The appeals court ordered that the case be retried from the beginning.
2019 police operation
Police arrested Yiannis Andreou and Aristos Kyprianou at Andreou’s residence in Lakatamia in January 2019 following surveillance.
Officers found and confiscated an army-style duffel bag containing about 15 kilogrammes of cocaine inside Kyprianou’s car, which was parked outside Andreou’s residence. Andreou later named Christodoulou as the alleged mastermind and the person who smuggled the drugs into Cyprus.
Laboratory testimony
A state laboratory employee testified on Tuesday for the prosecution, stating that she had analysed narcotics delivered to the laboratory by police.
She said the evidence consisted of 14 packages containing cocaine, with a total net weight of 15 kilogrammes. The analysis indicated that the cocaine originated in South America.
The cocaine had an average purity of about 75 per cent, which the witness described as usual for similar cases, where purity ranges between 75 and 85 per cent. She added that the samples were not analysed for other prohibited substances or additives.
