Four people have been arrested in connection with the discovery of a large cannabis plantation in Lakonia, southern Greece.

They face charges of participating in a criminal organization, violating drug laws, and breaching weapons legislation.

According to police, a large-scale operation was carried out on Saturday in the municipality of Eastern Mani by officers of the Drug Enforcement Unit of Sparta, with support from local police, the traffic department, and OPKE, the crime prevention unit. 

During the operation, authorities located a plantation in a remote, specially cleared area, where 2,257 cannabis plants, up to 1.70 meters tall, were being cultivated. The plants were uprooted and confiscated, along with irrigation and cultivation equipment.

Searches of the homes of the arrested individuals, aged 61, 39, 31 and 20, as well as body searches, led to the seizure of a small quantity of cannabis, a hunting weapon, agricultural tools, €150 in cash, five mobile phones, and two vehicles, all considered instruments used in criminal activity.

Police said further investigations are being carried out by authorities to fully dismantle the criminal group.