The Greek police (ELAS) have secured European Union funding for advanced technical equipment designed to detect narcotics hidden in shipping containers, marking a significant upgrade in Greece’s fight against organized drug-trafficking networks.

Greek police headquarters announced Tuesday that the project was approved and financed under the EU Anti-Fraud Programme (EUAF) administered by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). It falls under the program’s thematic area of “Investigation and surveillance equipment and methods.

The specialized gear will primarily bolster the technical capabilities of the Narcotics Enforcement Sub-Directorate within the Organized Crime Division, but will also be made available to other ELAS units, the Customs Service, and Port Authorities during joint operations.

The equipment is intended to counter cross-border threats, particularly the use of cargo containers to smuggle drugs into the European Union through Greek ports, with a focus on the country’s two largest gateways—Piraeus and Thessaloniki.

The European Union is covering 80% of the project cost through OLAF, with the remaining 20% funded nationally.