Student sentenced to 6 years in prison for transporting drugs into north Cyprus

A student who was being tried in court for drug crimes has been sentenced to 6 years in prison.

The Lefkosia High court decision against the defendant was delivered on Wednesday.

The defendant named only as JTO, a Nigerian, was arrested on Sept., 27, 2021 after she was found to have smuggled 2 kilos 257 grams of drugs into the country from Ercan Airport in her suitcase.

The judge said that the defendant, with the guidance of others, put 2 kilos 257 grams of drugs in her suitcase in her country, Nigeria, on September 21, 2021 and then flew into the country from Ercan Airport and delivered them to one LEU, a Nigerian on the same day.

The judge said the defendant's role in the incident was import, that she did not play a role in the distribution and sale within the country, therefore she was only used as a pawn.

He said that the defendant was sent to prison after the investigation and that she had been waiting for trial in a country whose language she did not speak for more than 2 years. 

The judge stated that the defendant gave a statement to the police who helped her. She accepted the cases brought against her.

Pointing out that drug crimes are becoming increasingly common and endangering society and young people, the Judge stated that the amount subject to the case is a significant amount.

The judge stated that they evaluated the defendant's involvement in the drug trade and that she was remorseful and helped justice, and unanimously sentenced her to 6 years in prison.

What happened?

The defendant was identified and arrested in the 'Dust Smoke' operation carried out by narcotics teams in Kyrenia and Lefkosia on September 27, 2021. 2 kilos 250 grams of methamphetamine-type drugs and 4 kilos 340 grams of jute, worth 2.5 million TL, were found and seized. 

7 foreign nationals were caught during the operation.  

The court had on Oct., 30 given two of the suspects named only as RO and LEU a prison sentence.

RU was given 12 years in prison and LEU was given 10 years in prison.