‘Drugs inside teddy bear’

A LIMASSOL man aged 23 was yesterday remanded in custody for eight days suspected of receiving by post a teddy bear stuffed with 360 grams of cannabis.

Graphic designer Christos Andreou claimed the drugs were for his own use, sent to him by a Yugoslavian female friend. But policeare treating the case as possession with intent to supply, as well as illegally importing drugs.

Police told the court that the drug squad had been tipped off that heavy drug trafficking was going on around Eleftherias Street. The area was put under surveillance and shortly afterwards police intercepted Andreou’s car, which they thought looked suspicious.

The court heard that officers searched the vehicle and found a teddy bear wrapped in a plastic bag on the passenger seat. Inside, police allegedly found three plastic packets containing 360 grams of cannabis.

Police said the suspect admitted the drugs had been sent to him by a friend through the post. The court was told that police were trying to locate the woman who allegedly posted the drugs to Andreou.