Pubdate: Fri, 24 Jun 2005
Source: Cyprus Mail, The (Cyprus)
Copyright: Cyprus Mail 2005
Contact:  http://www.cyprus-mail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/100
Author: John Leonidou

'HELPING PEOPLE TO WIN WAR ON DRUGS'

"IF we don't help people stay away and off drugs, then we will always 
have a drug problem on the island."

This was the message from Police Chief Tassos Panayiotou ahead of 
International Anti-drug Day on June 26. Speaking at a news conference 
on the problem of drugs on the island, Panayiotou said it was 
unfortunate that it was only in the last couple of years that the 
issue of drugs has been taken fully seriously by police officials.

"No matter how many drug dealers or smugglers we arrest we will 
always have the problem of drugs on the island if we don't cut out 
the need for drugs. That is why we are aiming to reach out and help 
drug users kick in their addiction. By helping people not get 
involved in drugs or helping people get over their drug problems, 
then we are cutting off the need for drugs."

He added that young people were becoming an increasing target for drugs.

"Last year, we observed that the majority of drug-related cases 
involved youngsters. If we separate the cases into age categories we 
see that 64 per cent of cases involve people between the ages of 20 
and 34, followed by 23 per cent belong to the age category of 35 and 
above. We have also recorded 13 per cent for youngsters between the 
ages of 15 and 19."

Speaking about how police officials and Anti-Drug Squad Units (IKAN) 
are combating the problem of drugs, Panayiotou pinpointed the exact 
number of drug related cases last year.

"During 2004, a total of 515 drug-related cases were reported to the 
police. Out of the 515 cases, a total of 639 people were involved, of 
which 435 were Cypriot and 204 were foreigners  In the past four 
years, we have seen a worrying increase in the number of Cypriots 
involved in drug-related cases whether it be cannabis, heroin, 
cocaine or ecstasy.

"The total seizure of drugs for 2004, according to the records of 
IKAN, was 23 kilos and 52 grams of cannabis, 53 kilos and 165 grams 
of Hashish, one kilo and 375 grams of cocaine, 9,971 pills and 966 
grams of ecstasy and ephedrine, three kilos and 168 grams of heroin 
and around 97 cannabis plants."

The three main entrance points for drugs getting into Cyprus are the 
international airports of Larnaca and Paphos, the Limassol Port and 
the Turkish occupied north of the island.

He added that of foreign drug users on the island, most were from 
Greece, Great Britain, Russia and Georgia.

- - If you are drug user and want help then call the police help line on 1498
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth