The police arrested five men and seized almost 21 kilograms of dried opium poppy pods during anti-drug operations in Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca, authorities said on Thursday.

Approximately 20.78kg of dried pods from the opium poppy plant were seized, with the arrestees aged 20, 22, 23, 27 and 28 years old.

One of the men, aged 22, was already in custody in connection with a separate drug case.

The police said investigations showed that two of the suspects, aged 27 and 28, were living in Cyprus without the requisite residence documents.

Authorities said more than 52kg of opium poppy products have been seized so far and 10 people arrested in connection with ongoing investigations into the matter.