Police have arrested three women at Athens International Airport after discovering nearly 73 kilograms (160 pounds) of cannabis in their luggage, foiling an attempt to smuggle the drugs to Italy.
The suspects, foreign nationals aged 29, 33, and 37, were detained around midday at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport.
Officers discovered 72.7 kilograms of hydroponically grown cannabis, known as skunk, concealed in nylon-wrapped packages inside their suitcases.
Authorities stated the arrests were the result of targeted inspections to disrupt air-travel drug trafficking.
Police utilized data analysis and passenger profiling to identify the women before they could board their flights.
In addition to the narcotics, officers seized three mobile phones allegedly linked to the operation. The suspects are accused of belonging to a transnational criminal network exporting cannabis from Greece to Italy.
They remain in custody pending a prosecutor's review.
The seizure underscores intensified controls at Greek transit hubs as authorities combat the use of commercial flights for international drug smuggling.