The evolution of drugs trafficking networks, the growing presence of new psychoactive substances and the constant adaptation of criminal groups to new trends and conditions were outlined by the head of the Narcotics Division of Greece’s Organised Crime Unit, Police Superintendent Giannis Karidakos, in an interview with state-run news agency AMNA on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
According to data from the Narcotics Division, Greek authorities had handled 323 drug cases and made 646 arrests since October 2024.
Over the same period, seizures included 1.8 tonnes of cocaine, 5.2 tonnes of raw cannabis, 174.5 kg of processed cannabis, 135.2 kg of heroin, 9,251 cannabis plants and 18,265 ecstasy tablets.
Karidakos said drugs trafficking networks were constantly changing, both in their structure and methods, as they adapted to operational pressure, new technologies and shifting consumer trends.
He noted that one of the most notable developments in recent years has been the change in distribution methods, with increased use of online applications and drug shipments via postal parcels, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, describing this as a “new modus operandi” for criminal groups.
He also referred to the so-called “waterbed effect”, whereby pressure from law enforcement in one trafficking route or hub does not eliminate the problem but displaces it elsewhere. Major seizures at ports such as Piraeus and Thessaloniki, he said, have led criminal networks to seek alternative routes and have increased the importance of other entry points.
On market trends, Karidakos said cannabis and cocaine remain the dominant substances in Greece, while heroin has shown a declining trend compared with previous years, although it has not disappeared from investigations.
The dominance of cocaine is also reflected in seizure data, with quantities reaching 1.8 tonnes in Greece since October 2024. He linked this to strong global supply, which affects availability and trafficking routes both into the Greek market and through the country as a transit corridor.
At the same time, new categories of substances are emerging, complicating enforcement efforts. He pointed in particular to synthetic cannabinoids, which he described as a growing threat. In some cases, he said, legal cannabis or cannabinoid products can be further processed, including by spraying, to increase potency and THC levels, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis.
He also highlighted a legislative change introduced on May 20 banning the retail sale of cannabinoids due to emerging risks.
He also referred to “pink cocaine” as one of the new psychoactive substances appearing on the market, as well as ketamine, which he said is partly “filling the gap left by heroin” as a sedative drug.
These developments, he added, show that the drug market is no longer limited to traditional substances but is increasingly shaped by new consumption patterns, with products that are easier to transport, more discreet to use or more attractive to certain user groups.
Asked whether Greece is a destination or transit country for drugs, Karidakos said it is both, but primarily a transit route – especially for cannabis and cocaine – due to its strategic geographic position and extensive coastline.
