Travel guidance for the destination was updated on Wednesday, June 4.
British tourists travelling to Greece this summer have been warned of the penalties for drug smuggling after the Foreign Office updated its travel guidance for the popular holiday hotspot.
Greek travellers are being made aware of improved scanning technology which is now being used at several airports across the country ahead of the holiday season. The updated equipment increases the chance of tourists being caught if they are carrying illegal substances.
Anyone found possessing illegal drugs risk facing long prison terms in brutal conditions with strict punishments.
On June 4, the Foreign Office (FO) updated their travel guidance for Greece. They wrote: “Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties. You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through airports.
“Airports in Greece have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.”
The updated guidance comes after an 18-year-old British teenager was arrested and accused of illegally purchasing, possessing and importing substantial amounts of narcotics, including cannabis.
Bella May Culley, from Billingham in Teesside, is thought to have disappeared from Thailand, only to be apprehended at Tbilisi International Airport in Georgia, some 3,700 miles away, on these charges.
According to reports, she was allegedly caught attempting to smuggle 14kg of cannabis into the country.
The 18-year-old has been held there for 55 days as the prosecution continues its investigations. The BBC reports that this might be prolonged by another seven months.
Charlotte May Lee, 21, from south London, is also accused of attempting to smuggle 101lbs (46kg) of the synthetic drug kush in her suitcase into Sri Lanka last month. The former flight attendant denies knowing there were drugs in her luggage and says she believes they were planted there.
She could face up to 25 years in prison if found guilty.
The FO also advises tourists that the Greek police will arrest them if they are caught behaving rowdy or indecent, especially where excessive drinking is involved.
Some fancy dress costumes may be regarded as offensive and therefore against decency laws.
According to the FO website: “The courts are likely to impose a heavy fine or a prison sentence if they judge the behaviour to be illegal. Your travel insurance may not cover you if you miss flights because of an alcohol-related arrest. “
It is also illegal to smoke in indoor public places in Greece, including shopping malls and transport hubs. Anyone caught smoking could get a fine of up to 500 euros.
