Major drugs bust at Limassol port

By George Psyllides

POLICE believe they have busted part of a large overseas drugs trafficking ring following the arrest on Tuesday of five suspects and seizure of 30 kilos of cannabis imported through Limassol port.

The five, three Greek nationals and two Cypriots, were remanded in custody for eight days.

The court heard that authorities had been tipped off about the import after which they placed the suspects under surveillance.

The suspects were followed to the port where they collected merchandise that arrived on Monday from Greece.

The vehicle carrying the merchandise was intercepted by officers on Franklin Roosevelt Avenue and was led to the town’s police HQ for a thorough search.

Police found three boilers containing 30 kilos of cannabis in plastic bags.

The driver of the vehicle was released after questioning. The importer, a 42-year-old Greek, who was the co-driver, named his accomplices during questioning. They were arrested shortly afterwards at a woodworking shop owned by the two Cypriots, 39 and 41.

The 42-year-old suspect said he rented space at the shop at the instructions of one of the other Greek nationals. A police search of the shop found a hidden passage to a specially designed area apparently used to grow cannabis.

Police believe the cannabis plants were moved elsewhere before the police raid.

The 42-year-old said the drugs came from Holland through Greece. He said he was going to be paid €7,000 for carrying out the deal, the second in a month. The suspect said he got €4,000 for the previous one which also involved a large quantity of cannabis.

The other four suspects chose to remain silent, police said.

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