Man held after 4kg of cocaine found in suitcase (Update)

A 21-year-old man was remanded for eight days by the Larnaca district court on Monday after he was detained at Larnaca airport on Sunday in connection with possession of close to 4kg of cocaine.

Following a tip off, customs officers carried out a search of the 21-year-old’s luggage. He had arrived at Larnaca airport on a flight from Qatar at 11.30am on Sunday.

Police found 3.93kg of cocaine in 19 packages in his luggage. The young man placed under arrest for possession of drugs and was taken before Larnaca district court on Monday.

He is facing charges of import and possession of illegal drugs with intent to supply another person.

“Officers at the customs department at Larnaca airport spotted the 21-year-old behaving suspiciously,” Ykan drug squad press officer Stelios Sergides told the Cyprus News Agency.

“His luggage was checked and in it 19 packages were found, containing a total of 3.93kg of cocaine. Further checks revealed that the man arrived in Cyprus from Brazil via Qatar and was supposed to leave for Athens soon.”

Sergides also added that investigations were underway to ascertain whether the man would leave the drugs in Cyprus or whether he had the intention of taking them to Athens.