Siderenou admits all charges in huge drug case

DRUG baron Lucas Siderenou yesterday pleaded guilty to all charges relating to his involvement in one of the island’s largest drug busts in 20 years.

The 60-year-old Famagusta district man pleaded guilty to seven charges, including possession and possession with intent to sell, and faces sentencing on November 19.

His wife Eleni, their daughter Georgia, 53-year-old Nicosia businessman Costas Constantinou and 55-year-old Greek national Iosif Perpinias will stand trail on March 9 next year.

Eleni yesterday pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit a felony. She pleaded not guilty to eight other charges. Georiga and Constantinou pleaded not guilty, while Perpinias pleaded guilty to five out of nine charges.

The five were arrested in connection with a huge drugs haul earlier this year.

Sotira villager Siderenou was caught red-handed transporting 189 kilos of cannabis and 12 kilos of cocaine in the back of a truck.

Initially he had said he hadn’t known what was in the truck, and had claimed to have made his fortune selling cucumbers, green beans and kolokassi. The 60-year-old later pleaded guilty.

Last month a legal oversight saw all five drug suspects walk free for just over an hour.

They were later rearrested.

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