Man held after horse doping substances found

A 49-YEAR-old Nicosia man was yesterday remanded in custody for four days in connection with possession and trafficking of controlled substances used for doping racehorses.

A second man from Larnaca was also arrested in connection with the case.
The court heard that horse farm owner Jemal Ahmed from Ayios Dhometios had been arrested on Thursday after police, acting on a tip off, searched his home and discovered a large quantity of restricted pharmaceutical substances used for doping horses.

Police said that, according to the pharmaceutical services, the case concerned strictly controlled substances that can be acquired only with a doctor’s prescription.

The court heard that, in his testimony, Ahmed said he had secured the illicit drugs from the occupied areas, from specific people and places.

Police said they were looking into certain claims the suspect had made concerning the possession and use of the drugs.

The investigator said that Ahmed supplied the drugs to other people.

A subsequent search in the Larnaca district led to the arrest of a second suspect, police said.

Police told the court that they were not ruling out the possibility of an organised ring operating on the island, adding that investigations could extend to other districts.

If the suspect was released, he could destroy evidence or influence witnesses or even attempt to flee, police said.

The court agreed and remanded the suspect in custody for four days.

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