Paphos, Cyprus. A 38-year-old Paphos resident was remanded for eight days by the Paphos district court on Friday, one day after his arrest in connection with the importation of dried poppy pods. Police said the remand was granted to facilitate ongoing investigations.
Investigation and arrest
According to police, evidence against the suspect emerged during an investigation into a package that arrived at Larnaca airport containing about half a kilogram of dried poppy pods.
The police drug squad Ykan stopped the suspect while he was riding a motorcycle in Paphos. During a search, officers found 1 gram of powder suspected to have come from dried poppy pods.
Wider enforcement actions
Police said the case is part of a series of actions taken by Ykan this week to combat the importation and trafficking of drugs, particularly opium poppy products.
On Thursday, five people were also issued eight-day remand orders after police found 20.78 kilograms of dried poppy pods.
Related investigation
In the past two weeks, 30 kilograms of opiate-based substances, largely dried poppy pods, were found in an investigation into an alleged opium ring that operated on TikTok.
Most recently, in connection with the suspected ring, a 35-year-old was arrested in Nicosia on Sunday after being found with 10 kilograms of dried poppy pods.
