Police in Heraklion just seized over 1,000 liters of unregulated alcohol and massive quantities of nitrous oxide from a local bar. Here is what tourists need to know to stay safe.
- Police seized over 1,000 liters of suspected illicit booze and massive quantities of nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) in a targeted operation in Heraklion.
- Authorities confiscated 129 small cylinders and 14 industrial cylinders of nitrous oxide—enough gas to fill roughly 30,000 balloons for partygoers.
- Officers found 284 containers filled with over 1,003 liters of untaxed alcohol without legal purchase invoices or tax documentation.
- A 53-year-old local venue owner was arrested, and chemical samples of both the alcohol and gas were dispatched to laboratories for health and safety testing.
Police officers in Heraklion pulled off a major raid, seizing over 1,000 liters of bootleg alcohol and enough nitrous oxide to fill an estimated 30,000 party balloons.
The operation targeted a storage facility linked to a cafe/bar in Heraklion. Authorities arrested the 53-year-old venue owner at the scene, while a 46-year-old representative from a distillery based in Attica is also under active investigation.
Inside the venue’s storage facility, officers discovered 284 plastic containers holding 1,003 liters of unbranded, untaxed alcoholic liquid. The business owner failed to produce tax documents or invoices proving the booze was legally sourced or that duty had been paid, depriving state coffers of nearly €3,000 in taxes.
Alongside the bootleg liquor, police uncovered a massive recreational drug operation setup. Officers confiscated 129 small cylinders and 14 heavy industrial tanks containing nitrous oxide—commonly sold on party strips as “laughing gas” or “whippits”—along with 115 dispenser valves and 300 balloons. Authorities calculated the compressed gas tanks held enough volume to pump out around 30,000 balloons.
Because bootleg alcohol and unregulated inhalants carry severe health risks—ranging from alcohol poisoning due to industrial contaminants like methanol to severe neurological damage from nitrous oxide—samples of both the booze and gas were rushed to state chemical laboratories to verify their exact contents.
While Heraklion remains a safe, vibrant nightlife hub, authorities remind visitors to exercise caution: stick to reputable establishments, avoid unusually cheap unbranded drinks, and steer clear of unregulated street party substances.
