10 years for attempted drug smuggling

A MAN was sentenced to 10 years in prison this week for trying to smuggle more than two kilos of drugs into the TRNC from South Cyprus.

Drugs “courier” Daniel Emekawuru was caught on January 25, 2021 in possession of 574 grammes of synthetic cannabinoid and almost about 1.8 kilos of a “cannabis-type” drug while trying to cross to North Cyprus from South Cyprus through a “forbidden military zone” in Haspolat. It was reported that he been offered 1,000 euros to smuggle the drugs into the country.

A panel of three judges at Lefkoşa Assize Court determined Emekawuru’s fate at a hearing on Monday.

Handing down the judges’ unanimous verdict, Judge Nüvit Gazi said that the defendant had been found guilty based on “his own confession, the facts and the evidence presented”.

Drugs offences are “serious, widespread crimes that greatly concern the public and require long-term imprisonment” Judge Gazi said, emphasising that Emekawuru possessed drugs containing “chemicals that could have a substantial effect on human health and that could poison many people”.

Judge Gazi indicated that the defendant “imported drugs as a courier to earn money” and stated that “even children are now using drugs and the authorities and the courts have a great responsibility to prevent the prevalence of drug use”.

In accordance with public interest, Judge Gazi explained that “deterrent and exemplary punishments” should be meted out to those who “commit such crimes”.