Suspected drug trafficker surrenders to TRNC police

A SUSPECTED drug trafficker wanted for questioning in the UK has surrendered to TRNC police and denied that he took part in the abduction of an alleged illegal online betting boss in North Cyprus.

Osman Aydeniz, 40, is suspected of supplying 17.83 kilos of the drug diamorphine in the UK, where three alleged accomplices have already been convicted.

British police also want to question him on theft and other charges and he was named as one of the National Crime Agency’s “most wanted”.

In the TRNC, Aydeniz was accused of taking part in the abduction of Hakan Törehan, who claimed he had been held against his will between June 2 and September 10.

However Girne District Court heard yesterday that the charge had now been revised to that of harbouring a criminal.

Aydeniz, who was remanded in custody for three days, had denied abducting Törehan, saying: “He came of his own free will, he is a family friend. We don’t have any bad blood between us.”

Törehan, who is separately charged with illegal, online betting, also appeared before the court on Monday, when he too was remanded in custody for three days.