Five students detained in Lefkoşa drug raid; Two suspects still at large

Lefkoşa, Cyprus – As part of a joint operation dubbed “Operation Tırpan”, carried out by the Narcotics and Crime Prevention units in Hamitköy, authorities seized approximately one kilogram of cannabis and arrested five individuals believed to be involved in drug trafficking while two additional suspects remain at large.

The operation was launched on June 10, 2025, following intelligence that illegal drugs were being stored at a residence in Hamitköy. 

According to police, the raid was conducted between 8:40pm and 9:15pm by officers from the Narcotics and Smuggling Prevention Directorate in coordination with the Crime Prevention Branch of the Lefkoşa Police Department.

Upon arrival, the suspects refused to open the door. Police eventually entered the apartment and found in separate rooms the suspects identified only as CNU and JAO, who are both Nigerians, and Liberian siblings HC and LNC. During the raid, LNC attempted to flee by jumping out of a window but later turned himself in to police at 12:20am on June 11.

Another suspect BMI, a Nigerian was apprehended upon arriving at the residence during the operation. A search of his room uncovered approximately one kilogram of cannabis, divided into 36 individual plastic bags prepared for distribution.

BMI later confessed to having received the drugs from a location in Lefkoşa on June 9, 2025, and bringing them to the residence. He also admitted to a previous delivery of eight 100-gram packages of cannabis to another individual in exchange for 600 TL. A photo of a precision scale was found on his mobile phone during forensic examination, further supporting the trafficking allegations.

During court proceedings, police stated that both BMI and CNU were living in the country without legal immigration status. The suspects HC and LNC who are siblings, were already out on bail for previous charges of assaulting a police officer and obstructing duty.

Police requested an additional seven-day detention period for all suspects to allow further investigation, including analysis of the seized substances and mobile phone data. They also confirmed that two more individuals connected to the case are being sought.

The judge granted the police request, ordering all five suspects to remain in custody for an additional seven days while the investigation continues.