In a significant law enforcement operation on February 13, 2026, two local individuals, aged 23 and 21, were arrested in a community within the Municipality of Eastern Mani. The arrests were part of a broader investigation into drug trafficking and illegal weapons possession.
The operation was spearheaded by the Narcotics Enforcement Team of the Crime Investigation Department in Sparta, with support from the Crime Prevention and Suppression Team of Laconia and a drug detection police dog from Messinia. This collaborative effort followed an extensive investigation that revealed the suspects were involved in the distribution of narcotics, specifically cocaine and cannabis, throughout the Laconia region.
To evade detection and mislead law enforcement, the suspects employed a predetermined code for their communications, highlighting the organized nature of their illicit activities.
As part of the operation, searches were conducted at the residences and storage facilities of the arrested individuals, resulting in the seizure of a substantial cache of illegal items, including:
– 953 grams of cocaine, packaged in individual bags,
– 18.6 grams of cannabis,
– An automatic assault rifle with a magazine,
– A military rifle with a magazine,
– One magazine for a military rifle,
– Two blank-firing pistols,
– Two pistols with three magazines,
– One hunting shotgun,
– One revolver,
– 597 cartridges,
– 160 non-projectile rounds,
– One collapsible baton,
– Four scales,
– Various packaging and adulteration materials for narcotics,
– Two mobile phones used to facilitate criminal activities,
– One vehicle and one motorcycle, also used in the commission of crimes,
– A cash sum of €2,600, believed to be proceeds from drug trafficking.
The arrested individuals are set to be brought before the appropriate authorities, while the investigation and preliminary inquiries continue under the auspices of the Crime Investigation Department of Sparta. This operation underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat drug-related crimes and ensure public safety in the region.
