Five defendants accused over a drugs haul of more than 230kg pleaded not guilty to all 30 charges at the Nicosia criminal court on Friday. The trial was adjourned to December 17 after defence lawyers raised the possibility that four more suspects could be added to the indictment, bringing the number of defendants to nine. The five, held since their arrest, remain in custody at the central prisons. The adjournment followed a request from defence lawyer Dimitris Tsolakidis. He told the court the case may be linked to arrests made on Thursday under Operation Plegma, when four people were remanded in custody. With the allegations tied to the same events, he argued the four could be charged and joined to the existing indictment. If that happens, proceedings against the four would have to be suspended and the case registered afresh for all nine, and he asked for the matter to be put back to allow for this. Lawyers for the other defendants agreed, except for the lawyer for defendant four. That lawyer asked the defendant be required to respond to the charges, and he then entered a denial. The case dates from February 19, when officers stopped a vehicle in Nicosia and found 11,480 firecrackers alongside cannabis and cocaine. Searches connected to the driver then uncovered 167kg of cannabis, 62kg of cocaine and 4.5kg of cannabis resin. Police also seized firearms, explosive devices and cash. On Friday, Christos Andreou, head of the organised crime directorate, said assets worth 750,000 euros have been frozen, including property valued at about 400,000 euros and 350,000 euros in cash and bank accounts. He said the network behind the operation has been largely dismantled, but that police cannot confirm it is fully finished until inquiries are complete. Thursday’s Operation Plegma involved 27 searches across the island and the arrest of 26 people. Police seized more than 25,000 euros in cash, 37 mobile phones, and two firearms and ammunition. Twenty-two of those arrested were released after questioning, while four were remanded for five days. Police believe all 26 are associates of the original five, and investigations are continuing with further arrests not ruled out. The organised crime directorate, launched in early October, is handling four other major cases, including one involving almost half a ton of ketamine bound for the Israeli market. The defendants have entered not guilty pleas and the trial has been set for December 17, with further suspects possible as investigations continue.