A foreign woman believed to be a member of an international drug smuggling ring was arrested at Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos on Saturday afternoon.
According to a police announcement published on Sunday, the 32-year-old woman was quickly identified through a combination of cross-checking information, data analysis and profiling upon her arrival from abroad.
When she was approached and searched, she was found to have carefully hidden 18 nylon bags of unprocessed hydroponic cannabis (skunk) in her luggage, with the aim to smuggle them to her final destination, the Greek island of Rhodes.
The smuggler was immediately arrested by the by the Athens International Airport narcotics squad on a charge of importing a total of 18.59 kgs of the forbidden substance into Greece.
Police said the 32-year-old foreign woman is a suspected member of an international criminal ring involved in the illegal import of cannabis via air.
Following her arrest, she is due to appear before the appropriate prosecuting authority.
A recent report by the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), presented on June 9, 2026, showed a shifting drug landscape in Greece.
Cannabis use among teens in Greece has reached its highest level in 25 years, while cocaine and other stimulants are gaining ground across the country, according to the European Drug Report 2026.
Cannabis remains the most common illegal substance, cocaine use continues to rise, and opioids, mainly heroin, still account for most overdose deaths.
The number of people entering treatment for cannabis use has risen by 32 percent compared with a decade ago, which implies that the drug has become more deeply entrenched in Greek society among users.
