Saranda, two Greek singers caught with 63.5 kg of marijuana

 Two Greek singers, arrested after 63.5 kilograms of marijuana were discovered in their vehicle, appeared before the Court for Serious Crimes to challenge the charges of international drug trafficking.

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The two artists, identified as P. M. and A. V., claimed they were victims of a setup. During the court hearing, they alleged that another compatriot had placed the narcotics in their vehicle without their knowledge. They pleaded not guilty and requested immediate release.

However, the prosecution presented a different theory, suggesting that the large quantity of narcotics found was, in fact, the payment the two singers received for their live performances at a disco in the city of Saranda. The Court for Serious Crimes accepted the prosecution's request, ordering the security measure of "arrest in prison" for both individuals.

The Court Hearing According to reports from the courtroom, the singer P. M. broke down in tears during the proceedings. He appeared visibly emotional and overwhelmed as he looked toward the gallery filled with media representatives and family members. Following the initial opening, the remainder of the hearing for both him and the female singer, A. V., was conducted behind closed doors.

Sources from within the session clarified that the prosecution insisted on keeping the suspects in custody to allow the investigation to proceed. The prosecution highlighted a suspicious detail: while the owners of the club in Saranda claimed to have paid the singers in euros, no significant cash was found on the suspects at the time of their arrest. This led investigators to believe the drugs were the actual form of payment.

Through translators, the suspects maintained their innocence. "We are innocent! We were trapped," they reportedly told the judge. Their legal defense argued that the legal conditions for detention were not met, but the court ultimately sided with the prosecution.

Details of the Arrest The two artists were apprehended on a Saturday evening at the Kakavije border crossing while traveling from Albania back to Greece. The vehicle, a "Seat" with Greek license plates IPP 3885, was driven by the 27-year-old P. M., while the 30-year-old A. V. was in the passenger seat.

A thorough police search revealed 63.5 kg of marijuana divided into 95 packages wrapped in adhesive tape. The narcotics were expertly hidden inside the rear bumper, within the chassis, and in a specially constructed compartment beneath the rear seat.

While P. M. was arrested immediately at the scene, the arrest of A. V. followed shortly after, as special investigative methods provided evidence of her involvement in the operation. The two had entered Albania through the Qafë-Botë border crossing as invited performers for the Saranda nightlife scene.

Source Reference: This report is based on official statements from the Saranda Police Department and court proceedings at the Court for Serious Crimes in Tirana. Identifying details were originally published by multiple national and international media outlets at the time of the event (June 2014).