Suspects Arrested with 13 Kilograms of Drugs at Ercan Airport to Remain in Custody

Muhad Baalwan, Zakarıya Behtaher, and Osman Süleymanoğulları, who were arrested in connection with the seizure of 13 kilograms of drugs at Ercan Airport, appeared in court again.

Police officer Fezile Kesat presented the facts in court. The police stated that on April 28, 2024, at 09:00, during a check by Customs and Excise Department officials in Muhad Baalwan's suitcase at Ercan Airport, 13 kilograms of cannabis-type drugs were found in 26 packages weighing half a kilogram each, seized as evidence.

The police stated that in his statement, Baalwan admitted to obtaining the drugs from a black person from Taiwan and intending to deliver them to someone whose name he did not know in the TRNC, confessing that he would receive 5,000 euros when he handed over the suitcase. The police also stated that after conducting an investigation, they detected Bentaher at the Akyar Border Gate on April 29, 2024, around 03:30, as he was crossing to South Cyprus. The police revealed that as he realized he would be apprehended, Bentaher deleted all his messages from his phone and destroyed his SIM card.

The police stated that Bentaher denied the accusations, claiming not to know Baalwan and have no involvement. The police also mentioned that according to Baalwan's statement, Bentaher arranged his stay in the TRNC and bought his ticket. The police revealed that contact between Baalwan and Bentaher was found on Baalwan's phone, including a photo of the place he would stay.

ARRESTED AT THE BORDER GATE

The police officer stated that following their investigations, they arrested Osman Süleymanoğulları, who was determined to have hired a taxi to take Bentaher to the Akyar Border Gate. The police also stated that upon Bentaher's arrest at the border gate, he abandoned his plan to go to South Cyprus.

"HE DID NOT GIVE HIS PHONE PASSWORD TO THE POLICE, HE BROKE HIS PHONE"

The police noted that the suspect was arrested at his home in Famagusta on the evening of April 29, where a gram of cannabis was found during a search. The police stated that the suspect refused to give his phone password for inspection. The police officer emphasized the importance of phone records for the continuation of the investigation but mentioned that Bentaher had reset his phone, while Süleymanoğulları refused to give his password, claiming that his phone was broken. The police officer, Fezile Kesat, explained that many CCTV camera footage in Famagusta had been reviewed, and statements had been taken from 8 people. The police stated that the passwords for the phones of suspects 2 and 3 had not yet been unlocked, and they were awaiting a report from the GSM operators.

SEARCH FOR THE RENTED CAR

The police mentioned that they were searching for the car rented by the suspect Bentaher, which could possibly be used by accomplices. The police stated that the WhatsApp conversations of suspects Muhad Baalwan and Zakarıya Behtaher would be examined, and they requested that the suspects remain in police custody for another 6 days for the purpose of the investigation.

Assessing the testimony before her, Judge Zehra Yalkut Bilgeç ordered that the suspects remain in police custody for 6 days for the purpose of the investigation.