A recent operation in Limassol led to the seizure of approximately 12 kilograms of cocaine and cannabis, cleverly concealed within a package labelled as animal food.
- A recent operation in Limassol led to the seizure of approximately 12 kilograms of cocaine and cannabis, cleverly concealed within a package labelled as animal food.
Two men, aged 27 and 18, were remanded for eight days following the discovery. The suspects appeared before the Limassol District Court where their lawyers did not object to the detention request, allowing the Drug Law Enforcement Unit (YKAN) to proceed with the remand.
Animal food: Intelligence-Led Operation Uncovers Hidden Drugs
The operation unfolded after YKAN officers acted on intelligence that suggested a suspicious package had arrived at a courier company storage facility. Upon inspection, a cardboard box from another European country caught their attention. Although it was marked as containing 10 kilograms of animal food, the officers suspected it might contain illegal substances.
Upon opening the box, officers discovered two packages of cocaine weighing approximately 2.57 kilograms and four packages of cannabis weighing around 9.325 kilograms. With the evidence in hand, YKAN decided to conduct a controlled delivery of the package.
Controlled Delivery and Arrests
On 9 December, the authorities replaced the original box with a similarly wrapped one to maintain its appearance during delivery. An undercover YKAN officer collected the box and placed it in a GPS-equipped vehicle, parking at the location noted in the delivery request.
Shortly after, a Bentley arrived with the two suspects inside. The undercover officer confirmed the driver’s identity before proceeding with the package handover. Following the exchange, the 27-year-old driver was arrested, found in possession of a mobile phone linked to the package. The 18-year-old passenger was also detained shortly thereafter.
Evidence and Ongoing Investigations
During the arrests, a half-smoked cigarette containing traces of cannabis was discovered on the younger suspect. In addition, various items were seized from the 27-year-old’s vehicle. He provided several claims during questioning, which are currently under investigation, while the 18-year-old opted not to testify.
YKAN’s investigations in Limassol continue, with 24 more statements expected to be taken. Authorities are also planning examinations to locate CCTV footage to identify any accomplices connected to the two suspects.
