Three arrests after opium poppy plants found

Three people were arrested after the drug squad found 30 opium poppy plants in Nicosia, police said on Friday.

The plants, ranging from one to one and a half metres high, were found during a warranted search in the capital following a tip off.

Officers found that the fruit of some of the plants had been torn with a sharp object to secret liquid opium from the poppies (papaver somniferum).

A number of dried poppy plants were also found, as well as a number of tools used to cultivate the plants.

Two people, aged 44 and 40, who reside in the house were arrested.

During investigations, evidence emerged against a third suspect, aged 44, who was also arrested near his house on Thursday night.

Nothing objectionable was found during a search in his house, police said.

However, a bag with dried poppy plants was found in a plot next to the house, which was taken in for further scientific examinations.