Best Drug Crime Lawyers in Vouliagmeni

About Drug Crime Law in Vouliagmeni, Greece

Vouliagmeni is a coastal suburb of Athens in the Municipality of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni. Drug offences here are investigated and prosecuted under Greek national law, mainly Law 4139-2013 on addictive substances, as amended. The Hellenic Police and, for incidents at sea or on the coastline, the Hellenic Coast Guard, handle arrests and investigations. Cases are brought before the Athens courts, since Vouliagmeni falls within the wider Athens judicial district.

Greek law draws a sharp line between personal use and trafficking or supply. Simple use or possession for personal use is treated as a misdemeanour with relatively lighter penalties and options for treatment. Production, cultivation, trafficking, import-export, supply, storage for distribution, and involvement of organized groups are felonies that carry severe prison terms and heavy fines. Aggravated cases can lead to very long sentences, including the possibility of life imprisonment in extreme scenarios.

Tourism, nightlife, and coastal activity mean that checks can occur in public places, vehicles, marinas, and beaches. Even small amounts can lead to arrest and booking. A criminal record can affect employment, education, travel visas, residency status, and professional licensing.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

You may need a lawyer if you are arrested on suspicion of use, possession, cultivation, or sale, even for a small amount. Early legal help can shape whether a case is treated as personal use or trafficking, which is often decisive for outcome and penalty.

Legal assistance is important if police search your home, car, boat, or phone, or if you are asked to provide a statement. A lawyer can check the legality of the search, whether there was a valid prosecutor order or in flagrante delicto grounds, and whether evidence can be excluded.

A lawyer is critical if you are a foreign national. You have rights to an interpreter and consular notification. Counsel can protect you during questioning, arrange bail, challenge pretrial detention, and coordinate with your consulate or family.

Lawyers also assist with diversion to treatment, plea negotiations, sentence mitigation, appeals, and clearing or reducing the impact of a criminal record after the case ends.

Local Laws Overview

Main statute. Law 4139-2013 governs narcotics offences in Greece. It defines addictive substances and controls cultivation, production, possession, transport, supply, distribution, and financing of drug activity. Later laws and circulars refine procedures and penalties.

Personal use. Possession strictly for personal use and simple use are misdemeanours. There is no fixed small quantity threshold in the law. Courts assess all circumstances, including type of substance, purity, quantity, packaging, paraphernalia, prior conduct, and statements. First-time users and persons who engage with certified treatment programs may receive leniency, suspension of prosecution, or reduced sentences.

Trafficking and supply. Possession with intent to supply, distribution, sale, transport, import-export, cultivation for distribution, and participation in organized trafficking are felonies with heavy penalties. Aggravating factors include involving minors, using weapons, operating near schools, being part of an organized criminal group, reoffending, or very large quantities. Sentences can be very long and fines substantial, with the harshest cases allowing for life imprisonment.

Medical and industrial cannabis. Recreational cannabis remains illegal. Industrial hemp products with very low THC are regulated separately. Medical cannabis is legal in Greece within a regulated framework and only with proper medical prescription and dispensing. Tourists who carry prescribed controlled medicines should have supporting medical documents and, where applicable, the standard Schengen certificate. Possession of high THC cannabis without proper medical authorization is prosecuted.

Driving under the influence of drugs. Driving while impaired by drugs is a criminal offence under the Greek Highway Code. Police may conduct roadside checks and order saliva, blood, or urine tests. Penalties include fines, license suspension, and criminal sanctions, especially if there is an accident or injury.

Procedure and rights. On arrest, you have the right to remain silent, the right to a lawyer, and the right to an interpreter if you do not speak Greek. Interrogations should not start without counsel if you request one. Searches typically require a prosecutor order unless there is in flagrante delicto or another lawful exception. Access to phone data and communications usually requires special prosecutorial authorization and adherence to confidentiality laws. Felony cases often involve an investigating judge and can lead to pretrial detention or bail. Maximum pretrial detention for felonies can be up to 18 months.

Court jurisdiction. Misdemeanours are usually tried by the Misdemeanour Courts in Athens. Felonies are tried by the competent Felony Courts in Athens. Appeals go to the Athens Court of Appeal. Venue depends on where the offence occurred and the investigative authority involved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is possession of a small amount for personal use a crime in Vouliagmeni

Yes. Personal use and simple possession are crimes in Greece, though treated more leniently than trafficking. Courts evaluate whether the amount and circumstances indicate personal use. If the court finds personal use, penalties are lighter and options for treatment and sentence suspension may exist.

What happens if I am arrested by police or the Coast Guard

You may be taken to the local police station or Coast Guard office for identification, booking, and questioning. You have the right to contact a lawyer and to inform a family member or your consulate if you are a foreign national. Do not give a statement before speaking with counsel. You will be brought promptly before a prosecutor, and, in felony cases, an investigating judge may be assigned.

Can the police search my hotel room, car, boat, or phone

Searches usually require a prosecutor order, except in in flagrante delicto or other urgent situations defined by law. Vehicle checks may occur during routine stops. Digital device access and communications data typically require additional authorization due to confidentiality protections. A lawyer can challenge unlawful searches and seek exclusion of evidence.

What are the penalties for trafficking or intent to supply

Trafficking and related acts are felonies with severe imprisonment terms and heavy fines. Aggravating circumstances like large quantities, involvement of minors, use of weapons, or participation in an organized group increase penalties. The most serious cases can lead to very long imprisonment, including life in extreme scenarios.

I am a tourist with a prescription that includes a controlled substance. What should I carry

Carry your original prescription, a doctor letter describing diagnosis and dosage, and proof of lawful possession. For controlled medicines within the Schengen area, a Schengen certificate may be required. Greek authorities can verify documents. Medical cannabis is lawful only in the regulated medical framework. Recreational possession remains illegal.

Will a drug conviction affect my record and future travel

Yes. A conviction creates a criminal record in Greece that can influence employment checks, licensing, education, and visa decisions. Some entries may be removed from the publicly issued record after statutory periods, but immigration authorities may still ask about arrests and convictions. A lawyer can advise on record clearance timelines.

Can I get treatment instead of punishment

Greek law encourages treatment for dependency. If you are dependent and enter a certified program such as OKANA or KETHEA, prosecutors and courts may suspend prosecution, reduce penalties, or consider alternatives to incarceration, especially for personal use offences. Documented participation and completion can be powerful mitigation.

How is cannabis treated under Greek law

Recreational cannabis is illegal. Possession, cultivation, or sale without authorization is prosecuted. Industrial hemp products with very low THC are regulated separately. Medical cannabis is allowed only under strict medical and regulatory conditions. Do not assume that what is legal elsewhere is allowed in Greece.

What if I refuse a roadside drug test

Refusal can lead to penalties similar to driving under the influence and may be used as incriminating evidence. If you have concerns about testing procedure or reliability, raise them through your lawyer, who can challenge the evidence in court.

I was caught with friends. Will we all be charged the same

Not necessarily. Each person’s role matters. Quantity, statements, money or packaging evidence, communications, and prior conduct can lead to different charges, ranging from personal use to conspiracy to traffic. Do not discuss the case with others. Get individual legal advice immediately.

Additional Resources

Hellenic Police drug enforcement units in South Attica for reporting and information about procedures after arrest.

Hellenic Coast Guard for incidents at sea or in marinas around Vouliagmeni.

Prosecutor of Athens and the Athens Courts for case status and procedural information.

Athens Bar Association for referrals to criminal defence lawyers experienced in narcotics cases.

OKANA Organization Against Drugs for substitution therapy, counseling, and harm reduction services.

KETHEA Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals for residential and outpatient treatment programs and certificates of participation.

National Organization for Medicines for information about controlled medicines and medical cannabis regulations.

Hellenic Data Protection Authority and the Hellenic Authority for Communication Security and Privacy for oversight of data access in criminal investigations.

Next Steps

Do not make statements. Politely assert your right to remain silent until your lawyer is present. Do not sign documents you do not understand.

Contact a qualified criminal defence lawyer in Athens. Ask about experience with Law 4139-2013, trafficking vs personal use distinctions, bail, and treatment options. If you are a foreign national, notify your consulate.

Gather documents. Collect prescriptions, medical records, proof of employment or study, travel itineraries, and any evidence showing personal use or dependency treatment. Provide your lawyer with contact details of potential witnesses.

Assess bail and pretrial options. Your lawyer can argue for release conditions, challenge pretrial detention, and seek diversion to treatment where applicable.

Plan your defence. Discuss whether to contest the search, challenge the substance identification and quantity, question intent to supply, or present mitigation such as clean record and treatment engagement.

Follow legal advice and court orders. Attend all hearings, comply with release conditions, and continue any recommended treatment. Ask your lawyer about long-term steps to minimize the impact on your criminal record after the case concludes.