THE DRUG SQUAD has uncovered a massive greenhouse in Protaras filled with cannabis plants, in what was yesterday described as one of the biggest drugs busts Cyprus has ever seen.
A 33-year-old man and a woman aged 24, both from Nicosia, have been arrested in connection with the case and were yesterday remanded for eight days by Famagusta District Court.
The greenhouse containing around 300 plants was spotted in a huge mansion, which had been specially modified to maintain the plantation. Police also found around three kilos of solid cannabis, half-smoked handmade cigarettes containing cannabis and precision scales.
According to the Drug Squad (YKAN) Commander, Philippos Vrondos, the plants were around 80cm tall and situated in two of the mansion’s rooms, which had special lighting, heating and ventilation systems installed. There were also temperature control and watering systems.
The house was built like a fortress, with the windows sealed, making the room airtight so the smell of cannabis would not seep outside.
“There was modern equipment that allowed each room to operate as a greenhouse, meaning there was controlled lighting, temperature and humidity,” Vrondos explained. “We even found generators in the mansion to deal with possible power cuts.”
What shocked officers the most, he added, was how modern the whole system was. “The systems were extremely modern and all windows were covered in a way that would prevent the plants’ smell from going outside and hide the cultivation from the outside world,” said Vrondos.
According to the YKAN Commander, the house had been under surveillance for the preceding three days until on Friday night, the 33-year-old suspect was spotted circling it.
“That is when we made the raid and arrested him,” he said.
The suspect, a motorcycle mechanic from Nicosia, apparently lived in the mansion. A 24-year-old woman from Nicosia was also arrested.
Vrondos explained that the woman had not been at the house at the time of the raid but investigations showed that she could to connected to the case.
And according to a police announcement yesterday, YKAN officers raided her home in Nicosia, where they found around four grams of cannabis.
Investigations carried on through the night and continued yesterday.
