Nicosia, Cyprus. Police arrested three people on Thursday after seizing more than 6.5kg of dried poppy bulbs during anti-drug operations in the Famagusta and Paphos districts. The arrests were made as part of ongoing investigations by the drug squad targeting the importation of narcotic substances through courier services.
Famagusta arrests
In Famagusta, officers arrested two men aged 35 and 30 after discovering packages containing dried poppy bulbs with a combined gross weight of 4.45kg.
Police said the 35-year-old collected a package from a courier company at around 10.20am. A search revealed seven packages containing dried poppy bulbs weighing a total of 1.4kg, and he was arrested at the scene.
A subsequent search of his home uncovered another package containing the same substance weighing 1.45kg. Investigators also determined that the suspect was residing illegally in the Republic.
Shortly afterwards, officers stopped a 30-year-old man who had also received a package from the same courier company. Police found dried poppy bulbs weighing 1.6kg in his possession and arrested him.
Courier company find
A third package containing a further 1.6kg of dried poppy bulbs was located at the courier company’s premises.
