EXTRA PROTECTION FOR POLICE IN WAKE OF UNDERWORLD THREATS

DRUG dealers have set their sights on taking out drug squad officers
in an effort to control the market unhindered, Justice Minister Doros
Theodorou was quoted as saying yesterday.

The plans to kill officers were revealed to the Minister by an
underworld figure, he told Simerini newspaper. According to the paper,
Theodorou's source is privy to behind-the-scenes information. The
minister said the source named a handful of hard drug dealers and
which drug squad officers they have set their sights on - police
officers who are a constant headache to the dealers. The informant
could not rule out the possibility that the drug dealers' plans would
be carried out by hit men, who would be recruited especially for this
purpose from abroad.

Asked to comment on the information, Theodorou told Simerini: "Threats were
made against police officers, and plans to murder police officers were also
drawn up which we know of. The information of plans to eliminate certain
police officers was investigated, and as determined, had a basis.

However, it was not possible to go ahead with arrests since there was
not sufficient evidence and testimony to support such a case in court."

Theodorou said the drug dealers who wanted the officers dead had
already been placed under close surveillance in the expectation that
they would make a mistake that would allow police to move in. As for
the officers' themselves, they have been given additional protection,
including patrols in their area of residence and highly trained
officers to shadow them.

Meanwhile, police said yesterday that in three separate incidents they
had arrested three men on drugs charges.

Two of the men, aged 38 and 26, were arrested in Paphos. Both were
found in possession of a substance believed to be cannabis. The
26-year-old allegedly admitted to being a drug user.

The third man, aged 41, was arrested in Nicosia. A search of his home
uncovered a total of 640 grams of white powder in six separate plastic
packages, as well as a half-smoked cigarette believed to contain
cannabis, said police.