A 63-year-old man and his 30-year-old son appeared before the investigating magistrate in Volos on Friday, May 15, 2026. They are accused of drug trafficking as a felony — specifically, attempting to receive over 13 kilograms of cannabis hidden in unaccompanied travel bags aboard a passenger ferry traveling from Volos to Skiathos.
How the Operation Unfolded
The case came to light following an operation by the Regional Narcotics Suppression Unit of the Volos Port Authority. Authorities had placed two suspicious bags under surveillance after they were shipped from Achilleio in Magnesia to Skiathos without sender or recipient information — a red flag that triggered the investigation.
Plainclothes coast guard officers boarded the tourist ferry alongside regular passengers and discreetly monitored the luggage’s journey until its arrival at Skiathos’ old port. There, the 63-year-old suspect reportedly collected the two duffel bags and loaded them into a vehicle — only to be immediately detained by authorities.
Shortly afterward, his son was also arrested. According to reports, he had been acting as a lookout near the port — commonly referred to as a ‘spotter’ — monitoring the area during the handover.
Drugs Seized and Allegations
During the search of the bags, law enforcement discovered a total of 13,320 grams (13.32 kg) of cannabis. Officials stated the shipment was intended for distribution across the Sporades islands ahead of the summer tourism season.
In his statement, the father claimed he agreed to collect the bags as a ‘favor’, expecting to receive 400 grams of cannabis for personal use in return. His son denied all charges, asserting he had no involvement in the case and was unaware of the contents of the bags or any drug trafficking activity.
Court Decision
After their statements, the 63-year-old was ordered held in pre-trial detention. For the younger suspect, there was disagreement between the investigating magistrate and the prosecutor, resulting in temporary house arrest pending a decision by the Volos Misdemeanor Court Council.
On Friday, the council issued its ruling — ordering the 30-year-old’s pre-trial detention as well. He is expected to be transferred to a prison facility in Larissa, where he will remain in custody until the trial begins.