Greek authorities have arrested a 20-year-old woman after a coast guard drug detection dog uncovered cocaine on board a passenger ferry at the port of Piraeus, the country’s busiest maritime hub.

The operation took place as part of intensified inspections carried out ahead of the busy summer travel season, with authorities focusing on preventing drug trafficking and improving passenger safety on ferry routes to the Greek islands.

Coast guard operation on passenger ferry

According to officials, officers from the Piraeus Port Authority, assisted by a specially trained detection dog, identified the young woman during a routine inspection on a passenger and vehicle ferry docked in the port.

She is accused of violating drug legislation after authorities discovered a plastic package containing 52.5 grams of cocaine in her possession.

Two mobile phones were also confiscated during the operation. The seized substance will be sent to the state chemical laboratory for further analysis.

Cocaine valued at over €2,600

Authorities estimate that the street value of the seized narcotics exceeds €2,600. The arrest forms part of wider efforts to combat drug distribution networks operating through transport hubs during peak travel periods.

Increased security checks across Greek ports

The coast guard has significantly increased inspections at ferry terminals and onboard vessels as passenger traffic to the islands rises sharply during the summer months.

Officials confirmed that similar checks will continue with the same intensity at major ports across Greece as part of a broader national strategy targeting drug trafficking and ensuring maritime security.