A woman aged 33 was arrested at Larnaca airport on Saturday night after police said they found almost 17 kilos of cannabis in her luggage, they said.

Police did not provide information on where the flight originated. However the customs department later on Sunday said the woman who had South African nationality, had arrived in Larnaca on a flight from her home country via Cairo.

She has tried to pass through the ‘nothing to declare’ green channel when exiting the airport but was pulled aside for luggage screening.

According to customs, the 16.8 kilos of drugs were found divided into 13 plastic bags.

The woman who was remanded for eight days by the court on Sunday faces charges of drugs smuggling, illegal possession and intent to supply.