Anti-narcotics squad sees increase in drug cases, seizures

Serious drug cases are on the rise in Cyprus, according to drug squad chief Michalis Katsounotos – who was also asked about the potential legalisation of cannabis.

In a wide-ranging interview to daily Politis on use, importation and policies on drugs, Katsounotos commented on the latest trends observed by his unit, Ykan.

Notably, Katsounotos did not outrightly reject the proposal for cannabis to be legalised – acknowledging a new EU wide trend on leniency towards the drug – and said that his unit has a position which will be put forward at the appropriate time, withholding further details.

He struck a harder stance however on the general use of drugs, saying that: “There are no light or heavy drugs, nor mild or hard substances… all of them are drugs that lead to addiction and dependence.”

He reasoned that all drugs harm not only the health of the user but wider public health, however he acknowledged that they are legally treated with different levels of severity according to their classification.

Cocaine is in class A, for example, while cannabis is in class B.

He also sought to dispel the myth that drug users are predominantly – or only – from broken homes and such, emphasising that “this no longer corresponds to reality, we have even seen kids from affluent families being led to drug use or even dealing.”

Katsounotos’ interview with the daily came as a 27-year-old man was arrested earlier this month for allegedly supplying four underage girls, including two sisters aged 15 and 13, with crystal meth and heroin.

At the time, Katsounotos said there has been a rise in drug use among youths, especially in cocaine and methamphetamine (crystal meth).

In the interview, he noted that so far this year 11 minors have been implicated in drug use, ranging from users to dealers – while 58 people have been referred to rehabilitation programmes. The latter vary in age from 14-18 and 18-24 and are those typically found to be in possession of lower amounts of drugs, deemed to be for personal use.

So far this year, the drug unit has busted 240 cases – compared to 226 during the corresponding period last year – noting an increase of 5.8 per cent.

However, Katsounotos stressed that serious cases are up, with 32 so far this year compared to 24 during last year’s period – a rise of 25 per cent.

He also said that the quantities of drugs being seized are significantly higher, with 155kg of cannabis, 4kg of cocaine and 8kg of methamphetamine having been impounded so far this year.

Asked about how drugs arrive on the island, he said the main smuggling points are the ports, airports, postal services and private courier companies.

He said that there is no indication that there are local drug production facilities, noting however that one site was closed in Limassol.

Asked about cannabis oils, he said that those containing CBD are not covered by the anti-drug laws and are viewed as pharmaceutical products.

As for the products containing THC however, the matter is far more complex, he said, noting that the European Court of Justice has linked the prohibition of such goods to harming public health – a stance which is not currently supported by local authorities, such as the health ministry and pharmaceutical services.

In light of the recent ECJ ruling, however, Katsounotos said that his unit no longer hunts down such products.