Drugs Found in Packages of “Souvenirs”

Two people were arrested in Cyprus after a large shipment of cannabis-containing products disguised as souvenirs was discovered.

On July 9, customs officers at Larnaca airport, together with the anti-drug unit (ΥΚΑΝ), inspected two courier parcels that had arrived from one of the EU countries. The shipments were declared as «souvenirs», but raised suspicions among inspectors.

During the inspection, about 1,600 items with a total weight of 24 kilograms were found in the boxes. Among them were tea, coffee, chewing gum, marmalade, cigarette filters, e-cigarettes and other products containing cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids.

The parcels were seized, after which the investigation was handed over to the anti-drug unit.

As part of further investigative actions in Limassol, police arrested a 31-year-old alleged recipient of the parcels and a 23-year-old employee of the store through which, according to investigators, the products were being sold. During a search of the premises, additional cannabinoid-containing goods were found and seized.

The investigation is ongoing.