A 19-year-old man was arrested in Paphos on Thursday after a dramatic incident involving gunfire and drugs, according to police. The arrest was carried out by the Drug Law Enforcement Unit (YKAN) as part of an ongoing investigation into drug possession, assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and escaping lawful custody.
The incident began during routine traffic checks when officers signaled a driver to stop for inspection. The driver, however, refused to comply and sped away, committing multiple traffic violations to evade police.
The vehicle was later stopped, and the driver — identified as a 19-year-old — was arrested for offences committed on the spot. During the arrest, he resisted and managed to escape briefly. An officer fired warning shots into the air to prevent further escape.
While fleeing, the suspect dropped a nylon bag containing a small amount of cannabis. The 19-year-old later returned to the scene and consented to a search of his vehicle, where officers found small quantities of cocaine and cannabis.
A preliminary drug test returned positive, leading to a court warrant for his arrest on charges of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and escaping custody. The police continues to investigate the case.
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