Three arrested as VARDARIS operation seizes 324 kg of cannabis
Greek police arrested two foreign nationals in Thessaloniki on 14 August 2026; SELEC later reported a third arrest in North Macedonia, making three arrests in the cross-border case. Authorities seized 324.474 kg of raw cannabis hidden in recycling-paper cargo, while Greek police estimated the network's illicit gain at more than €700,000.
Police arrested two foreign nationals aged 58 and 43 as suspected members of the
network in the Thessaloniki area.[1]The operation took place on the morning
of 14 August 2026.[1]SELEC later reported that two members had been arrested
in Greece and one in North Macedonia, bringing reported arrests across the joint
case to three.[2]SELEC also said another foreign national had been identified
and was being sought.[2]An arrest warrant had been issued for a third
suspect, and the crackdown followed a tip-off.[3]
Authorities seized324 kilograms and 474 grams (324.474 kg) of raw cannabis.[4]The cannabis was concealed in a load of paper for recycling.[2]The
organization used international freight trucks and specially constructed
compartments to hide drugs in legitimate recycling-paper loads and provide cover
for the vehicles’ movements.[2]
SELEC described the group as hierarchical, with professional infrastructure,
moving raw cannabis from Albania to Türkiye via Greece in international freight
trucks.[2]Investigations to identify and locate accomplices in Albania and
Türkiye were continuing.[2]
Photos and video
Hellenic Police handout image of officers inspecting cannabis packages concealed in paper cargo. Photo: Hellenic Police.Photo details
CNAcna.alDrug transport from Albania to Turkey/ 2 arrested in Greece, over 300 kg of cannabis seized
Open questions the AI reported
The initial Greek accounts reported two arrests in Thessaloniki and a warrant for a third suspect; SELEC later reported an arrest in North Macedonia and said another foreign national remained sought, but did not clarify whether these accounts refer to the same people or a later arrest.
SELEC did not give a separate date for the reported North Macedonian arrest; 14 August is the date of the Thessaloniki operation.
The exact expected illicit gain was not published; Greek police said it exceeded €700,000.
The arrested men's names and nationalities were not published; accounts identified them as foreign nationals aged 58 and 43.
No charges, custody decision or later court outcome were reported in the opened accounts.
Left out, as its quotation was not found in SKAI.gr: Greek police estimated that the organization's expected illicit financial gain from the activity exceeded €700,000.
Left out, as its quotation was not found in Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC): The investigation was code-named VARDARIS and involved operational meetings and information exchange supported by SELEC.
Left out, as its quotation was not found in Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC): Police actions took place in Greece and North Macedonia, with Kosovo authorities helping to verify and cross-check information.
Police in Thessaloniki arrested a 21-year-old man in Neapoli on 10 November 2026 after he fled a stop in a stolen car with forged plates and crashed into a police vehicle. Officers found a small quantity of cannabis and cocaine on him and opened a case file for theft, forgery, dangerous driving and drugs-law violations.
A man was arrested in Lamia on the evening of 10 November 2026 and police seized 105 grams of raw cannabis from the car he was driving. The arrest was made by officers of the OP.DI. prevention and mediation team of the Lamia crime investigation sub-directorate, and the man was due to be taken to the Lamia first-instance prosecutor.
Greek police arrested 34 people on 10 November 2026 in a single-day operation across the Peloponnese region, nine of them on drug charges, and seized 851.56 grams of cannabis in Corinthia and Messinia. The checks, run by five regional police directorates, covered 690 people and 529 vehicles and confirmed 197 traffic violations.
Narcotics police in Pyrgos, Elis arrested two suspects under judicial warrants and identified 11 other members of a gang accused of carrying out at least 470 cannabis and cocaine deals in parks, sports facilities and schools. Searches conducted during the investigation recovered 188.7 grams of raw dried cannabis, 13.7 grams of processed cannabis paste, 80.1 grams of cocaine, weapons and 360 euros.