Prosecutors said the man was a key figure in a drug trafficking operation, distributing cannabis to users in Cyprus.
The defendant admitted importing the cannabis from Greece on October 4, 2023, and intending to sell it. He also confessed to possessing and sending €46,000 in drug proceeds to individuals in Brazil, the Netherlands, and Spain.
The court acknowledged his guilty plea and clean criminal record as mitigating factors. He received concurrent nine-year sentences for the drug charges and a three-year term for money laundering.
His lawyer, Evangelia Lazaridou, confirmed the seriousness of the offences but stated the cannabis was intended for resale to third parties.
Cyprus Police’s Drug Law Enforcement Unit (YKAN) received a tip on October 5 about a suspicious package addressed to the defendant. Declared as clothing, it contained cannabis upon inspection.
YKAN officers intercepted the package and carried out a controlled delivery. The defendant was arrested upon taking possession of the drugs.
Investigations revealed the man had rented an apartment for cash payments since January 2023. Authorities are investigating whether nine previous packages sent by the same parties contained narcotics.
https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/local/brazilian-man-jailed-for-importing-possessing-drugs-in-cyprus/
