Custody order for Jordanians caught with fake cash and drugs

TWO 25-YEAR-OLD Jordanian men who live in Paphos were yesterday remanded in eight-day custody after they were caught red-handed with 500g of cannabis and almost $10,000 in counterfeit US$100 bills.

The duo were arrested on Tuesday night following a tip-off that they were transporting a kilogram of cannabis and $20,000 in fake $100 bills to the capital.

Police yesterday told the court they were still looking for the missing stash.

The court heard that the second suspect claimed he had been in Jordan in April when he was approached by the first suspect’s brother and asked to take $10,000 to his brother in Cyprus in return for $500.

The second suspect said he found out the money was counterfeit before bringing it to Cyprus and that he was then promised €1,000 for going ahead with the delivery. When the second suspect arrived in Cyprus, he refused to hand over the counterfeit cash without first receiving payment. This was when he said the first suspect allegedly told the second that they had to go to Nicosia to deliver the cannabis and the money so that he could get his payment.

In the meantime, the first suspect told police that he had only met the second suspect two days ago and that it was the second suspect who had the cash and cannabis and that it had been him who had arranged to sell the goods.

In light of the conflicting stories the judge agreed to the police request to have both men remanded for eight days. Neither suspects’ lawyers objected to the remand.

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