Larissa Prison drone delivery attempt thwarted by anti-drone system

On August 20, 2026, authorities at the Larissa Prison successfully intercepted a drone attempting to deliver a package of prohibited electronic items to inmates. The drone was detected by the “Tevkros” anti-drone system, which was developed by the Research, Technological Development and Innovation Centre (KETAK) of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (GEETHA).

Upon activation of the system, the unmanned aircraft was neutralized and fell into a prison courtyard. Correctional staff recovered the package, which contained 12 mobile phones, 21 SIM cards, 4 wireless routers, 3 USB sticks, 18 charging cables, 10 wired headsets, 12 adapters, and 2 pairs of Bluetooth headphones. The Larissa Crime Investigation Sub-directorate has launched a preliminary investigation to identify the perpetrators and the intended recipients.

The incident highlights the increasing use of drones by criminal networks to bypass prison security. In response to the success of the Tevkros system, the General Secretariat for Crime Policy plans to acquire 25 additional “Tevkros II” systems to further enhance the protection of correctional facilities across Greece. This operation was part of a collaborative effort between the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Citizen Protection, and the General Secretariat for Crime Policy.