Mother and son in UK-Cyprus drug ring

A mother and son are believed to have been involved in an international cocaine and heroin trafficking ring linking Devon, London and Cyprus.

According to the Devon Daily, Helen Katsigianni, 67, from London, faces trial and is believed to have been part of a gang for transporting drugs from London to Plymouth between 2016 to 2017.

Her son, George Pikounis, 28, is believed to have been the ringleader of the conspiracy.

“Over a 10-month period there are a known 33 trips and there may have been more. From these trips payments of approximately £85,000 were paid into banks in Plymouth and transferred to London and then out of the country to Cyprus,” said prosecutor Sean Brunton QC.

Also facing trial is Martin Payne, 27, from Plymouth, accused of transporting the drugs. He was caught by police red-handed with the narcotics in a car in Exeter.

He is believed to have been Pikounis’ right-hand man after his release from prison.

“When Payne emerged from prison he can be shown to have commenced regular contact with George Pikounis and Helen Katsigianni within two weeks,” the prosecutor said.

According to the Devon Daily, Katsigianni said she was completely unaware that her son was involved in drugs and claimed she believed she was collecting debts on his behalf.

The prosecutor said she was either “the most unlucky, gullible, naïve and blind person in London or she is guilty”.

Text messages between mother and son showed that she “helped to run the drug business on a week to week basis” while he was in Cyprus, he said.