Two young Israelis, aged 23 and 24, were arrested in Limassol, Cyprus, after more than 27 kg. of ketamine and quantities of cocaine, MDMA, mephedrone, and cannabis were found in the apartment where they were staying, Cypriot media reported on Thursday.
A court on Thursday morning ordered that the two be remanded for eight days for investigative purposes. Their defense attorneys did not object to the police request. The two are exercising their right to remain silent and are not cooperating with investigators, according to local reports.
Police told the court that the two entered Cyprus on September 20 as tourists, with permission to remain in the country until December 19. On September 24, they rented an Airbnb apartment in the Amathus area of Limassol and were due to leave on September 29.
On Wednesday, the apartment's owner arrived at the property and found a suitcase, four sacks allegedly used for protein powder, and a vacuum-sealing device. When she opened the suitcase, she saw plant material and white powder, prompting her to call the police.
During the police operation, however, the two young men returned to the building and headed toward the apartment. When officers stopped them for questioning and identified themselves as police, the two allegedly resisted arrest.
Israeli suspect struck Cyprus officer, police say
According to police, one of the suspects struck an officer in the face, while the other pushed an officer and tried to flee. A member of YKAN, Cyprus's anti-narcotics unit, was lightly injured, suffering swelling to the lips and redness around one eye. He received medical treatment and was released.
The investigation is being handled by YKAN's Limassol district unit. Investigators are examining whether the case is connected to the seizure of approximately 390 kg. of ketamine in Limassol earlier in September.
During a search of the apartment, YKAN officers found 27 kg. and 507 gr. of ketamine, 377 gr. of cannabis, 776 gr. of mephedrone, 269 gr. of MDMA, and 172 gr. of cocaine. Police also seized approximately €10,000 in cash.
Cyprus Police confirmed the seizure and the ages of the two suspects, while Cypriot media identified them as Israelis.
The case has attracted particular interest in Cyprus because of the major drug seizure uncovered in the city earlier in September. According to Cyprus News, although the intelligence that led to the current operation was obtained independently, investigators are examining whether the new case is linked to the approximately 390-kg. ketamine case.
No connection between the two cases has been established so far.
Rental cars with money, drugs leads police to second apartment
A further development emerged on Thursday afternoon, when investigators found money and drugs in two rental cars during the course of the investigation. Keys that were discovered led police to a second apartment, where additional drugs were found.
According to the same report, police had already received prior intelligence indicating that the second apartment was being used for drug trafficking, further strengthening suspicions of a possible connection to the previous major case.
In the earlier case, Walla reported that those arrested included a 53-year-old Israeli man and his 51-year-old wife, as well as a Palestinian couple.
Information presented to the court at the time indicated suspicions that a network had been smuggling drugs from Israel to Cyprus using luxury vessels that arrived at marinas and ports in Larnaca and Limassol. The drugs were concealed, among other methods, as construction materials and sanitary products.
The investigation is ongoing.