Cyprus police in major drugs bust, success for YKAN

The Anti-Drugs Unit (YKAN) of the Cyprus Police scored a major victory against the drugs world, by arresting a man reported to be the second in command of the island’s crime world. He was driving a truck with about 200 kilos of cannabis on board.

The arrest took place in a large-scale operation late Thursday night when the 59 year old suspect was stopped at the Latsia-IMC underpass on suspicion of carrying drugs when the horde in his truck was revealed.

Police later apprehended a second man aged 53, while three others have since been arrested.

Police Chief Iacovos Papacostas said this was a “major success” for the YKAN unit that had been trailing the suspects for nearly five years but could not secure the necessary evidence to put them away for good.

Papacostas said that he knew where the drugs came from, but would not reveal the country of origin, while local press reports suggested these came from the occupied north and from the Greek port of Pireas.

Papacostas added that more arrest were expected as the drugs ring started to break up, while police forces in other countries as well as Interpol were constantly being informed.