FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE — Authorities in Cyprus have seized 24 kilograms of cannabis from the luggage of a 25-year-old woman who arrived Sunday afternoon at Paphos International Airport, marking the latest in a string of drug trafficking incidents at the country’s entry points.
The woman was stopped during a coordinated inspection by the Drug Law Enforcement Unit (YKAN) and the Customs Department.
Officers discovered 40 nylon packages containing cannabis in her baggage.
The drugs were confiscated, and the woman was taken into custody to assist with the investigation.
Officials said the search was part of ongoing efforts to identify individuals attempting to smuggle narcotics into the Republic.
The seizure comes amid a surge in similar cases at Cyprus airports:
- In June, an Australian national was caught with 23 kilograms of cannabis at Larnaca Airport after arriving from Thailand via the UAE.
- In January, a 45-year-old man was found carrying 19 kilograms of cannabis in his luggage, also at Larnaca Airport. He was remanded for eight days by the Larnaca District Court.
- In March, a 26-year-old woman was sentenced to 16 years in prison for attempting to smuggle 40 kilograms of cannabis through Larnaca Airport. Authorities said she was part of a larger trafficking network.
Cypriot law enforcement officials have expressed concern over the increasing frequency and scale of drug smuggling operations targeting the island’s airports.