Three arrests for laughing gas

Police on Saturday said that three people aged 18 and 21 were arrested the previous night in Ayia Napa for illegal possession and use of nitrous oxide (laughing gas).

The arrests come just days after Famagusta police pledged to intensify checks for the drug.

According to the police report, around 11 on Friday night, an 18-year-old Larnaca resident was spotted inflating a laughing gas balloon in the Ayia Napa area.

Police found on his person an unused nitrous oxide capsule, a device for using capsules and a balloon, which were confiscated.

The statement said that a second 18-year-old was arrested around the same time, in another area of Ayia Napa. He was stopped after being seen holding a nitrous oxide capsule, and officers found six more unused capsules in his possession.

A few hours later, again in Ayia Napa, officers spotted a 21-year-old tourist trying to inflate a balloon with nitrous oxide. A search turned up eight unused capsules, a used one, a device for using capsules and a balloon.

The two 18-year-olds and the 21-year-old were arrested on the spot and taken to a police station, where they were interrogated and charged in writing, after which they were released to be summoned before a court at a later stage.

The Ayia Napa police station is investigating the three cases.