The combustion unit (YKAN) records unprecedented indicators in 2025.
According to August 11, 588 kilograms of cannabis were seized in Cyprus - almost as much as for the entire 2024, when a record of 618 kilograms was recorded. Recently, the number of confiscation is growing daily, and cannabis itself remains the main drug entering the illegal market of the island.
In recent days alone, an American citizen with 24 kilograms of Cannabis was detained in Larnaca, which again increased the overall indicators. In addition, from the beginning of 2025, 39 kilograms of cocaine have been seized - more than in 2023 (24 kg), but so far less than last year’s 54 kg.
Law enforcement agencies note that we are talking only about those quantities that can be detected. The real amount of drug import into the country remains unknown.
About a third of all parties are imported through Larnaki Airport, where YKAN, together with customs, achieves significant success. However, deliveries are also held through courier services, post offices, as well as seaports.
Criminal networks are trying to minimize the risks using "pure" carriers - people without the criminal past, which complicates the identification. Nevertheless, thanks to international cooperation and the exchange of intelligence, Cypriot intelligence agencies manage to intercept large batches before they hit the market.
A recent case showed the ingenuity of criminals: Cannabis was hidden in a package with dry breakfasts. However, even such methods do not interfere with law enforcement officers to find thousands of drug doses.
Of particular concern is the growth of the number of young people involved in the storage and distribution of drugs. Increasingly, cases of detention of 19–21-year-olds are recorded with parties, for which he threatens from 8 to 10 years in prison.
The number of cases associated with schoolchildren and students is growing. Every year, 150-200 adolescents and their families are directed to therapeutic or advisory programs.
The head of YKAN, Christ Andreu, said that in August, large -scale operations in Nicosia, Limsol and Larnaca were underwent, during which 22 kilograms of cannabis were seized and a whole plantation on the roof of a residential building was discovered - this has not been found for many years.
According to Andreus, dealers are constantly inventing new ways of deceiving the authorities, however, the services know the channels and schemes, so it is possible to intercept drugs before getting to end consumers.
Among the one seized for this year: 588 kg of Cannabis, 1.5 kg of hash, 30 kg of cocaine, amphetamines, ecstasy, tramadol and even doping substances intended for athletes.
YKAN relies not only on detention, but also on prevention. In 2025, the units officers held more than 120 meetings with young people who use drugs and their families.
Prevention programs cover the National Guard, middle and technical schools, as well as parents. The purpose of such meetings is to inform, strengthen the life skills of adolescents and help parents in matters of education and management of crisis situations.
The authorities associate the increase in parties with the fact that international networks prefer to import large volumes at a time, minimizing the number of operations and thereby reducing the risk of disclosure. Profit from one successful supply can be calculated by millions of euros, which makes the risk justified in the eyes of criminal organizations.
Source: In-CyPrus.philenews.com
