A man has been arrested at Tymbou (Ercan) airport in the area known as Northern Cyprus after allegedly attempting to transport four human embryos off the island in his luggage, in a case which has intensified scrutiny of the region’s controversial IVF industry.
The 24-year-old suspect was detained on Wednesday while preparing to board a flight from the airport, according to authorities operating in the territory. Police reportedly discovered four embryos stored in tubes labelled “life parcel” alongside a reference number hidden inside his luggage.
