A 62-year-old man was slapped with a hefty 12-year jail sentence for his role in running a cannabis production unit, as he pleaded guilty to possession of nine kilos of the drug.

He had previously been sentenced to eight years in prison but was granted a presidential pardon, however the suspended sentence will now be reactivated.

Limassol criminal court also jailed the defendant’s 61-year-old friend and accomplice for three years, in a case which first broke in October 2021 as drug squad (Ykan) members uncovered the operation in Pera Pedi.

It took two whole days for the officers to examine the premises and its contents, indicating the scale of the operation.

The officers revealed that the operation was taking place in two old buildings in the village, where they found 19 plants and 200 cuttings, along with a wide array of tools and tech.