33-year-old Italian and 24-year-old Dutchman arrived from Brussels on a Cyprus Airways flight at around 7.30pm.
He said the two men’s behaviour in the arrivals area aroused suspicion, prompting officers to call them over to customs for inspection.
Ioannou said drug squad presence at the airport was especially strong these days as the department carried out operations to locate hard drugs, especially cocaine.
The Italian suspect’s luggage was examined first, uncovering nothing suspicious, and he was allowed to leave the airport.
During an inspection of the Dutchman’s luggage, however, officers found a second dividing compartment, containing 15 packages of cannabis weighing a total 15 kilos. It is believed the concealment of the drugs was done by a professional, as the packages were laced with coffee beans and closed airtight so as not to alert sniffer dogs. Officers also believe the drugs, of a highly advanced type, came from Holland.
In the meantime, the find the Italian attempted to make a run for it, managing to leave the airport and jump into a taxi heading for Limassol. Nevertheless, he was chased down and caught by a drug squad officer, who was slightly injured making the arrest.
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