Cyprus travel warning issued by Foreign Office over new strict laws this summer

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Holidaymakers headed to Cyprus have been issued a warning about a new law that has come into place.The UK Foreign Office has urged travellers to be aware that laughing gas is now banned on the Mediterranean island and possession could lead to prison time.Laughing gas - or nitrous oxide - is a colourless gas commonly found in pressurised metal canisters and is used by some as a drug, reports the Echo.The gas slows down your brain and your body's responses if inhaled can cause fits of giggles and laughter.

In the UK, the gas cannot be supplied for human consumption, but it's not illegal to possess nitrous oxide. However, in Cyprus, laughing gas is now considered an 'illegal drug'.The Foreign Office said: "Cyprus has a strictly enforced zero-tolerance policy towards illegal drugs, which now includes laughing gas."If you are caught with any type of narcotic you will receive either a prison sentence or a hefty fine.

The rules against possession of illegal drugs are stricter than in the UK..."The current judicial processing delays mean that court cases can take up to two years to be scheduled and adjournments happen regularly in Cyprus."This comes amid a separate travel warning issued by budget airline Jet2 for those headed to Spain, as holiday trips could be delayed amid strike action.The airline warns that flights from 2pm to 4pm to the Arrecife airport in Lanzarote as well as Alicante, Fuerteventura and Ibiza's main travel hubs could be delayed on April 13, 16, 20, 23, 27 and 30. Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our newsletter here.