Suspect in Greek Woman's Disappearance Arrested on Drug Charges; Blood Evidence Found

A 43-year-old tenant, considered the primary suspect in the disappearance of Stavroula Leventaki, was brought before a prosecutor in Chania under heavy police escort. The suspect, a citizen of North Macedonia, was arrested Friday evening following a surveillance operation.

While his arrest was initially linked to charges of cannabis cultivation and possession, authorities are investigating his potential involvement in Leventaki's death. Bloodstains discovered at the suspect's residence, on a television and floor, have been confirmed to belong to the missing 45-year-old woman. Further forensic analysis is pending for bloodstains found in the suspect's car and on a mop.

“

The charges he faces relate exclusively to the cannabis plants and are a felony.

Investigators are exploring the possibility that the suspect murdered Leventaki and transported her body from the rear of his residence, an area not covered by security cameras. Recovered deleted video footage may show the woman entering the premises and her body being removed and placed into a vehicle. The suspect, speaking to a television program, claimed he had received threats from Leventaki's associates and implicated her brother.

Leventaki was last seen on May 29, though some accounts suggest her disappearance occurred on May 30. Initial investigations focused on her home, where purchases made that day were found untouched. The suspect, who rented a property, is now the central figure in the ongoing investigation as authorities meticulously examine the scene and surrounding security camera footage.

“

I was receiving threats from Stavroula Leventaki's circle.