Man found living in north Cyprus illegally for 13 years sentenced to 9 months in prison for drugs

A man who was arrested and tried for drugs was sentenced to 9 months in prison by a local court on Monday after he was found guilty of drug charges.

The defendant, 32-year-old Ahmet Aksoy, a Turkish national was arrested in October 2024 after 3 types of drugs were found in his residence in Lefkosia. It was also determined that he was living in north Cyprus illegally without a resident permit.

Before the verdict, the defendant stated that he had been living in Northern Cyprus for a long time and did not want to be deported.

The decision was read out by the senior judge stated that on October 22, 2024, between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM, an investigation was carried out by the Crimes Prevention Branch at the defendant's house in the Çağlayan area of Lefkosia. During the search, 15 ecstasy (MDMA) pills, 2 grams and 245 mg of cocaine, and 727 milligrams of cannabis, along with a sensitive scale, were found and seized as evidence.

The judge also mentioned that during the investigation, it was determined that the defendant had been living illegally in the country for 13 years. In his statement, the defendant said he had been living in Northern Cyprus for 13 years and expressed his desire to benefit from probation, but due to his illegal residence, he would not be eligible for this right.

When determining the sentence, the judge stated that all facts were evaluated and that the defendant was found guilty of 4 charges. 

The judge noted that drug crimes are serious and widespread, frequently appearing in the agendas of criminal courts as the most common type of crime. Despite the small quantities of the drugs, the defendant’s possession of dangerous types like cocaine and MDMA was considered an aggravating factor. 

The judge also stated that the defendant’s acceptance of the charges and his contribution to the swift administration of justice were taken into account in his favor. As a result, he was sentenced to 9 months in prison.