Police dismantled a criminal organization running a systematic cannabis growing and trafficking operation in Arkadia after extensive investigations combining multiple sources of evidence.
According to police, the group had set up the operation since May of this year on specially cleared land with natural cover, aiming to harvest and resell the crop for large profits.
The raid took place on July 3, 2026, in the municipality of South Kynouria. Officers from the Tripoli anti-crime unit carried out the operation with support from crime prevention and suppression teams from Arkadia, Argolida, and Messinia, the Arkadia DIAS motorcycle unit, Sparta’s narcotics unit, and the forensic investigations department of the Peloponnese police headquarters. A police narcotics detection dog and its handler from Argolida also took part.
Two foreign nationals, ages 44 and 21, both alleged members of the organization, were arrested during the coordinated operation. They face charges of forming a criminal organization along with drug and immigration law violations. The case file also includes a 46-year-old foreign national who has been identified.
Police located the extensive cannabis plantation in a hard-to-reach forested area of South Kynouria. The site was specially set up, with dense vegetation providing natural cover.
The plantation spanned 22 terraced levels covering roughly 14 acres, where 1,561 cannabis plants up to 1.5 meters tall were being grown. All the plants were uprooted and seized.
What police found on site
At the plantation site, officers found and seized specially built drying and storage areas for the cannabis, tents with living supplies for the growers, a makeshift lookout post, an irrigation tank, two mobile phones, a scale, numerous tools, and full cultivation equipment.
Officials estimate the operation’s expected profits would have reached 3.12 million euros. The arrested individuals reportedly lacked legal residency documents.
The defendants will be brought before the relevant judicial authorities, while the investigation continues under Tripoli’s anti-crime unit.
