Mykonos: three arrests for drugs at Tourlos

Three Greek nationals were arrested by Port Authority officers in Mykonos for violation of drug laws, in a screening conducted on Monday 10 August in the afternoon at the new Tourlos port in Mykonos. This is the main point of arrival and departure for passengers on the island.

According to a statement by the Port Authority, the detection of the substances was decisive from the alert given by the police dog named ‘Storm’, who participates in passenger and baggage screening. K9 units are systematically used in ports and airports during peak season, as they allow screening of a large number of passengers in a short time without disrupting the flow of embarkation. The dog’s alert provides the legal basis for Port Authority officers to proceed with physical searching and baggage examination.

In the subsequent search, a nylon package with cannabis plant extract weighing 1.58 grams mixed, a plastic cannabis shredder with residue, and two improvised packages of cocaine weighing 1.33 grams mixed were found and seized.

A carton with ten 0.25 gram alprazolam tablets and three partial tablet strips with fourteen more tablets of the same substance, for a total of 24 tablets, were also found. Alprazolam is a pharmaceutical substance in the category of benzodiazepines, dispensed exclusively with medical prescription, and its possession without a prescription constitutes violation of the law. In recent years it has appeared increasingly frequently in seizures made in nightlife venues and high-tourism areas.

The quantities found are small, a fact that classifies the case at the level of possession rather than distribution. The pre-investigation is being conducted by the Port Authority of Mykonos and the arrested men will be brought before the competent judicial authorities. The presumption of innocence applies until a decision is issued. In cases involving small quantities for personal use, the law provides for different treatment compared to distribution, both in terms of penalties and in terms of eligibility for rehabilitation programs.

The new port at Tourlos is the main gateway for passenger entry to Mykonos and handles thousands of people daily during the summer months, from ferry routes and cruise ships. The Port Authority has intensified screening using police dogs, particularly during peak arrival hours, when passengers from multiple routes converge simultaneously.

In parallel, the Mykonos Police Subdivision is conducting operations within the island, such as the case with 4.4 kg of cannabis and five arrests on Monday. Port screening in the Cyclades’ ports is expected to continue until the end of the tourist season.