Authorities in Chania, Greece, deported a Spanish passenger from the cruise ship Scarlet Lady after discovering small quantities of cocaine and cannabis in his possession.
The passenger arrived in Souda, Crete, during an unscheduled stop made by the vessel. Ship security detected the drugs and alerted the Hellenic Coast Guard. The Coast Guard detained the man, who subsequently appeared before the Chania Prosecutor’s Office before being repatriated to Spain by air.
The incident, reported on Monday, 13 July 2026, occurred within the previous 24 hours. The Scarlet Lady made the emergency stop at Souda port following a last-minute change to its itinerary. According to zarpanews.gr, the alteration was necessary because both Turkey and Egypt denied the ship permission to dock — reportedly due to the cruise’s thematic focus and the profile of its passengers. The vessel is chartered for a one-month LGBTQ+-oriented cruise, with most passengers hailing from the LGBTQ+ community.