Exarchia: two arrests on Strefi Hill

Two men, aged 30 and 19, foreign nationals according to the announcement, were arrested for drug trafficking in the area of Strefi Hill in Exarchia. The incident took place on the afternoon of Friday 14 August 2026 and was made public on Tuesday 18 August by the Hellenic Police. The operation was carried out by officers of the DRASI motorcycle unit who, it is stated, spotted the two on the hill; they are reported to have attempted to flee and were restrained shortly afterwards. Two more people were arrested in the same incident, accused of possessing small quantities of drugs, a charge that is handled differently in procedural terms from trafficking.

During the search, officers found forty-five nylon packets of raw cannabis hidden under dry grass, with a total weight of 66 grams. A knife and the sum of 55 euros were also seized. The division of the quantity into many small packets is the element on which the charge of trafficking rather than simple possession rests, since it points to readiness for retail distribution. A case file was drawn up by the Exarchia Τ.Δ.Ε.Ε. and concerns breaches of the drugs and firearms legislation, as well as violence against officials, a charge arising from the attempted escape. The announcement does not mention any injury to police officers.

Strefi Hill is in the centre of Athens, between Exarchia and Ambelokipi, and is one of the few open green spaces in the area. In recent years it has been at the centre of public debate over its redevelopment and over how it is policed, with residents, neighbourhood bodies and the authorities setting out different approaches. The shape of the hill, with dense vegetation, multiple paths and limited lighting in places, makes it difficult to patrol, and this is the feature police services invoke when they opt for targeted operations rather than a permanent presence. Operations of this kind are repeated at regular intervals and announced after the event, while the redevelopment of the hill itself, which includes work on paths, planting and lighting, is proceeding in stages and has provoked disputes over its design and its funding.

All four of those arrested were taken before the competent prosecuting authority. Until a final court ruling is issued they are presumed innocent, and the charges brought against them have not been tried by a court. The Hellenic Police did not release identifying details and TodayGrid does not publish names or other identifying information. The four-day gap between the incident and the announcement is usual, since publication takes place after the case file is completed and approved by the competent directorate. It has not been announced whether the case is linked to a wider investigation into drug trafficking in the area, or whether restrictive conditions have been imposed on those arrested.