FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – A man arrested at Paphos airport on Friday was found to have swallowed over a kilogram of cocaine in an attempt to smuggle it into Cyprus, police said Wednesday.
The suspect underwent medical procedures at Paphos General Hospital to remove the drugs, which were contained in 72 nylon packages totaling 1.13 kilograms.
The man remains in custody, having been remanded for eight days on Saturday.
This case is part of a broader trend of drug smuggling incidents in Cyprus.
In June 2023, a woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempting to smuggle 16.8 kilograms of cannabis through Larnaca airport. Similarly, in February 2023, three men were jailed for smuggling cocaine and cannabis, with one suspect caught carrying 2.8 kilograms of cocaine in his luggage at Larnaca airport2.
Authorities have intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking, with the Drug Law Enforcement Unit conducting targeted operations and increasing surveillance at entry points.