Piraeus: 19-year-old arrested with cocaine on ship

A 19-year-old Greek national was arrested on the afternoon of Thursday 27 August 2026 at Piraeus Central Port when found carrying 103.5 grams of cocaine in rock form while boarding a passenger-vehicle ferry, according to portnet.gr reporting. Personnel from the Regional Narcotics Prosecution Unit identified the substance in cooperation with Piraeus Central Port Authority security, with key assistance from specially trained narcotics sniffer dog ‘BRAT’, according to the same source. The young man was reportedly preparing to board the ship at the time of the check, with port authorities immediately proceeding to arrest him.

Following arrest, authorities conducted a search at the 19-year-old’s home, where a second mobile phone was found, resulting in two devices being seized, according to portnet.gr. The cocaine quantity was handed to the State Chemistry Institute for chemical analysis, to determine with precision the purity and composition of the substance. The identity of the arrested person has not been disclosed beyond his age, while Piraeus Central Port Authority has not announced further details about any previous involvement in similar cases.

Piraeus port, as one of the largest passenger and freight ports in the Mediterranean, remains consistently in the sights of port authorities and narcotics prosecution services, precisely because of the huge volume of passengers and vehicles processed daily to and from the islands. The use of trained sniffer dogs, such as ‘BRAT’, is a core tool in detecting small quantities of narcotics carried on passengers or in luggage, especially on routes connecting the capital with Aegean islands. The case falls within this broader surveillance framework, though portnet.gr does not state whether the 19-year-old was heading to a specific destination. Port authorities continue to strengthen their presence at key boarding points, especially during summer months when passenger traffic to the islands increases significantly.

The case has been referred to the competent prosecuting authority, with the preliminary investigation being conducted by Piraeus Central Port Authority, according to the announcement released on Friday 28 August 2026. The result of laboratory analysis by the State Chemistry Institute is expected to determine with precision the characteristics of the seized substance, a factor that will weigh on the legal classification of the case. No date has yet been announced for the 19-year-old’s appearance before the courts. In similar recent cases engaging Attica, such as ‘arrests over thefts of electronics’ from shops, authorities have stressed the importance of cooperation between security bodies. Earlier in August, ‘fire at an abandoned building in Piraeus’ had also engaged local authorities in the area.