A 34-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday after customs officers discovered 18kg of cannabis hidden inside a parcel at Larnaca airport.

The package, which arrived on May 19, was being held in a temporary storage facility when customs staff carried out a routine inspection.

Inside, they found 30 vacuum-sealed packages containing plant material identified as cannabis.

The discovery was part of a joint operation between the drug law enforcement unit (Ykan) and the customs department, aimed at intercepting illegal substances sent to Cyprus through postal deliveries.

On Tuesday, the suspect arrived to collect the parcel using a false identity.

He was immediately arrested by drugs squad (Ykan) officers.

A search followed at a flat in Larnaca under a court warrant. Officers found further evidence, including documents and a cardboard box containing another 20g of cannabis.

The man is now in custody and being investigated for conspiracy to commit a felony, illegal importation and possession of drugs with intent to supply, as well as forgery and impersonation.