DRUG ARRESTS UP 25 PER CENT IN 2007

OVER 1,000 people were arrested on drug-related charges last year, an
increase of 25 per cent on 2006.

Last year was the worst year in terms of the number of users and
dealers caught, especially among the young, which is worrying the
authorities.

In total, 1,028 people were arrested last year, 743 of whom were
locals, compared with 744 in 2006; 878 cases were brought before the
courts, compared with 654 in 2006.

Deaths caused by illegal substances were also on the rise. Twenty were
reported last year (with investigations still ongoing in several other
suspicious cases), while 17 were reported in 2006.

The Drugs Squad (YKAN) also reported a huge increase in the amount of
cannabis confiscated: 148kg were grabbed last year, compared with 26.5
in 2006. This was the highest amount since the closure of Beirut port
30 years ago. At the time, dealers were moving drugs to Europe through
Cyprus, whereas the drugs are now being imported for the local market.

One kilo of heroin was also confiscated, along with 4.5 kilos of
opium.

The amount of cocaine and ecstasy found last year was actually down on
2006, YKAN said.

Commenting on the statistics, the Association of Parents and Friends
of Drug Dependent Individuals told the Mail that the increase in
arrests was clear evidence that there were now more drug users, with
more drugs actually making it onto the streets.

President of the Association Costas Olympios added that the police
were simply doing their job and stated that the law must not be relaxed.

"The situation would just spiral out of control if that happened," he
explained. "If people were allowed to carry one gram of cannabis, for
example, they would end up with five. Give them an inch and they will
take a mile."

Kyriacos Veresies, scientific director of Kenthea, the Centre for Drug
Education and Treatment of Drug Addicts, insists "it's very important
to try and give drug users every opportunity to kick the habit and we
need to establish more rehabilitation centres with different
programmes and ideas in both the private and public sectors as
different people have different needs."

Kenthea, which was founded in 1994, runs a special open therapeutic
rehabilitation programme in all major towns across the island.

The centre also runs educational programmes for adolescents, parents
and other organised bodies that are now implemented quite successfully
in municipalities and communities.

Veresies described the problem of drugs on the island as "very
serious". He has said in the past that Cyprus must change its drug
laws and make them more lenient.

"Now that we are in the European Union, we must harmonise our laws
with the rest of the EU and accept new realities. We currently don't
even differentiate between soft and hard drugs and the varying amounts
people are caught with, labelling all users under the umbrella of a
'druggie'."