Two students sentenced to 18 months and 2 years in prison over drug possession in Lefkosia

Lefkosia, Cyprus — The Lefkosia Assize Court has sentenced two foreign nationals to prison following their conviction in a drug possession case stemming from the “Red Light Operation” in which 30 grams of cannabis were seized. 

The defendant NS received a sentence of one and a half years, while KE was sentenced to two years in prison.

The verdict was delivered on Monday May 12, 2025 by a panel of judges.

According to the judgment, on August 13, 2024, at approximately 3:30 a.m., officers from the Crime Prevention Unit stopped a vehicle on Bedrettin Demirel Street in Lefkosia. During preparations for a search, KE, who was a passenger in the vehicle, fled the scene on foot.

A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered 30 grams of cannabis in 28 separate packages hidden under the front passenger seat. The driver, NS, was arrested at the scene. In his statement to police, NS claimed that the drugs belonged to KE.

Following the statement, police located and arrested KE at his residence in Gönyeli. A search of the home revealed an additional one gram of cannabis, a precision scale, and a grinder containing drug residue.

The judge also noted that immigration checks revealed NS had been residing illegally in the country since October 16, 2023. KE, on the other hand, was found to be in Cyprus under a valid student permit.

Highlighting the growing prevalence of drug-related offenses and their impact on public safety, the judge emphasized that KE was already facing another case involving 64 grams of cannabis related to possession, distribution, and supply—an aggravating factor in his sentencing.

The court also considered the intent to distribute in both defendants’ possession of drugs as a further aggravating circumstance. However, in NS’s case, his nine-month period of pre-trial detention was acknowledged as a mitigating factor.

Taking all factors into account, the court sentenced NS to 18 months in prison and KE to two years.