Customs officials and police seized scores of illegal cannabinoid products, including substances linked to fatalities worldwide, during a coordinated raid on a shop in Larnaca last Friday.
The operation, which involved the Drug Law Enforcement Unit (YKAN), pharmaceutical services, and health inspectors, targeted a premises selling cannabinoid items and various other products.
Customs officers seized 145 electronic cigarettes, refill liquids, and ingestible drops, as well as two units of cannabinoid liquids intended for pets. The Customs Department noted that similar items seized in previous raids were found by the State General Laboratory to contain psychotropic substances.
Testing on some products identified the presence of MDMB-en-PINACA, a dangerous synthetic chemical. Any seized items not previously analysed will be sent for laboratory testing to determine their ingredients before officials decide whether to permanently confiscate them or return them to the owner.
YKAN officers seized 193 packages containing cannabis or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), while other agencies confiscated 38 packages of CBD products. Authorities stated these CBD items lacked the necessary marketing authorisation or were prohibited under food control laws.
The Customs Department issued a fresh warning regarding the “extremely high risk” of consuming such products without medical supervision. They highlighted that MDMB-en-PINACA is frequently used as an illegal adulterant in products marketed as natural cannabis or vape liquids.
The department added that dozens of poisonings and numerous deaths have been recorded globally due to the substance. Furthermore, studies indicate it can cause permanent damage to memory and learning by breaking down brain cells.
