Two foreigners sentenced to 10 and 12 years in prison in North Cyprus for dealing in drugs worth over 4.5M TL

Two Nigerians who were arrested and detained for dealing in drugs have sentenced to 10 and 12 years in prison respectively.

The Lefkosa Criminal High court decision against the defendants, IRO and LEU was announced on Monday. 

IRO was sentenced to 12 years in prison and LEU to 10 years in prison after they were found guilty of drug crimes.

IRO and LEU were among 7 people arrested in 2021 after they were found with 2 kilos, 250 grams of methamphetamine and 4 kilos, 340 grams of jute type drugs worth 4.5 million TL, which were seized in the Dust Smoke operation organized by the Narcotics and Smuggling Prevention Directorate.

The judge said that the defendants were convicted of "importing, giving, receiving and possessing the illegal drugs, methamphetamine and jute."

The judge stated that on October 27, 2021, at around 09:00, IRO, was detected and arrested by a police team from the Narcotics and Smuggling Prevention Directorate when he went to pick up a cargo package suspected to contain narcotics, sent to him from a cargo company operating in the Lefkcosia Industrial Zone

The judge stated that during the check carried out in the presence of IRO in the cargo package in question, 2 kilos, 300 grams of methamphetamine type drug with a market value of 2.5 million TL was found in his possession which were seized as evidence.

The judge stated that during the investigations carried out on the defendant regarding the issue, it was determined that he arranged for the cargo package containing drugs to be sent to a person he contacted over the internet who would deliver the drug package to one LEU with the guidance of the same person.

LEU was arrested, and during the search at his address in Kyrenia where, 4 kilos, 340 grams of jute-type narcotics were found and seized as evidence.

The judge stated that LEU bought some of the drugs from IRO in the Lefkcosia region on September 21, 2021, with the guidance of a wanted person, whom he talked to over the internet, and that 300 grams of the drugs in question were taken from a person he did not know in the Kyrenia region between September 21, 2021 and October 27, 2021. He explained that it was determined that he made a total profit of 4,500 Euros by selling it to 3 different people.

The judge stated that both defendants used drugs for commercial purposes and sold them. Noting that drug crimes are becoming increasingly common, the Judge noted that deterrent and exemplary punishments should be given to those who commit such crimes and emphasized the seriousness, prevalence and seriousness of drug crimes.

The judge touched upon the negative effects of drug crimes on society. Referring to all the issues in favor and against the defendants, the judge announced that they sentenced the defendant IRO to 10 years in prison and LEU to 12 years in prison.