The Anti-Drugs Unit (YKAN) seized about 1,000 kilos of drugs in Cyprus up to 26 October this year. Cannabis seizures halved to 395 kilos and 37 grams from 814 kilos, while ketamine, almost unknown on the island, jumped to 417 kilos from just three grams last year.
Drugs that were previously absent or found only in tiny amounts, among them ketamine and captagon, appeared on the market this year. Cannabis remains the drug in highest demand, but for the first time there is a clear preference for synthetic drugs, according to Phileleftheros’s analysis of the figures.
The main change was the ketamine, found in three separate seizures. Information suggests its final destination may have been Israel, because of the involvement of Israeli nationals.
Cannabis seizures fell by 50 per cent. Seizures of cannabis resin, however, rose to 48 kilos from one kilo.
Cocaine seizures rose to 82 kilos from 52. The increase is of particular concern to YKAN, which is analysing the cases, mainly to establish where the drugs were heading. A YKAN official told Phileleftheros that the concern was not only rising quantities but also the growing number of new types of drug that people are trying to bring into the country.
Up to 26 October, 900 drug cases were investigated, involving 1,029 people, of whom 543 are Cypriots and 486 foreign nationals. More than 1,200 people are identified each year in connection with possession or dealing. Police chief Themistos Arnaoutis said recently that “we are in a constant war against drugs”.
Captagon seizures reached a record 1,211 tablets, against 68 last year. YKAN also seized one kilo and 507 grams of ‘pinaca’, paper infused with a type of cannabis, plus 993 A4 sheets each containing about 300 doses. None had been found last year.
Other new arrivals included poppy and 699 grams of psilocybin, better known as magic mushrooms. Six kilos and 188 grams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) were also seized. These drugs are aimed mainly at young users, whose ages keep falling, Phileleftheros reports.
Methamphetamine seizures were at similar levels to last year, at 5.2 kilos against 5.5 kilos. Heroin seizures remain very small.
YKAN was recently placed under the newly established Directorate for Combating Organised Crime (DAOE), headed by Christos Andreou.
