Two people have been arrested after almost 18 kilograms of cannabis were found inside a suitcase which arrived at Larnaca airport on board an international flight, the police said on Sunday.

The suitcase belonged to a 47-year-old Italian woman, who had travelled to Larnaca from Madrid, with a stopover in Belgrade, arriving on Saturday.

During an x-ray check of the suitcase in Larnaca, it was found that its contents were “likely drugs”. A subsequent search found 17.6kg of cannabis inside.

As such, she was arrested, and later in the day, a 65-year-old man was arrested in connection with the same case.

The pair were both brought before the Famagusta district court in Paralimni on Sunday and were both remanded in custody for eight days.

The police’s investigation into the matter is ongoing.