The Paranesti detention centre opened on 28 September 2012 within a former military site. In 2016, Paranesti PRDC had a capacity for 977 detainees, but by 2020 this dropped to 500, and down to 300 in 2021. The official capacity in 2025 was 310. It is composed of six distinct fenced-in single-storey container accommodation blocks, each with its own yard, and two small administrative buildings. When the centre was visited in 2013 by the CPT delegation, it held 324 people. However, as the delegation discovered, 17 juveniles along with 50 adults had been moved two days prior to the visit. Notwithstanding the fact that the centre was not at its full capacity, the large dormitories were crammed with beds, made worse by the fact that people only had access to the outdoor area for one and a half hours a day. The delegation observed mould and leaking in the toilet area. Lack of hygiene products and the provision of activities were some of the main concerns among detainees. Located 25km from the next biggest city, Drama, and almost 200 km away from Thessaloniki, this is a remote site for visitors or relatives to access.

The Pre-Removal Detention Centres (PRDCs) were inaugurated as such in 2015, following a Greek government's decree which defines their operation and legal framework. This decree offers us ballpark figures on the initially allocated funds for the operation of the PRDCs for the year 2015. In total, 5.775.000,00 euros were to be provided for distribution of meals to detainees (750.000,00 for Paranesti), 630.500,00 for cleaning services for the PRDCs (75.000,00 for Paranesti), 590.000,00 for water supply, and -among others- 2.830.000,00 for the transportation, expenses, and accommodation of police officers guarding the facilities. Furthermore, together with the Corinth PRDC, Paranesti is the only one for which there's mention of cost of medical supplies (7.500,00 for 2015 for Paranesti). Paranesti and Corinth PRDCs are the only ones for which the cost of land-use is mentioned (1.200,00 euros per month for Paranesti).

The situation in the centre has been described for years as a state of confusion, disorder and anxiety.

Protesting against the condition of their detention 23 migrants began a hunger strike on 23rd March 2015. ‘Our demand is to be free and as human being this is the right of each persons to freely live in every community’ wrote one of those on hunger strike. During the first days of the strike, migrants were intimidated and threatened with relocation to different detention centres across the country. However, the strike lasted until April 8th, making this one of the longest hunger strikes in the history of detention centres in Greece.

Perhaps as a response to this event and to other similar protests, the authorities attempted to provide a slightly different regime. When NGO Aitima visited the centre in 2016, it found the conditions of detention and access to activities generally adequate. Detainees were allowed to use their phones and had access to fresh air every day, while the cells then featured TVs, books, table games and areas of worship. Detainees were also regularly provided with hygiene items and could also engage in vegetable cultivation. Nevertheless, unaccompanied minors were regularly detained for a period of three to four months in conditions not suitable for children.

At the end 2018 there were no doctors visiting the facility, nor any psychologists or social workers. There were five nurses available for most of the days. Delays of registering asylum claims have also been observed there. Furthermore, there were again complaints about the lack of sufficient hygiene and non-food items, including clothes and shoes, clean mattresses and clean blankets.

Testimony respondents we spoke to said “There were not enough beds and blankets and when you asked for more blankets or to wash your laundry they just ignored you. Sometimes the temperature was minus 10 so we told them we needed the blankets.” Most described overcrowded spaces, sharing rooms with between 6-18 people, with one toilet and shower per container. It was reported that each container was organised by nationality. Detainees described poor hygiene conditions; and although they are provided with bunk beds, mattresses and blankets, they are reported to be extremely dirty. In the winter, respondents shared that they were extremely cold and not provided with extra clothing or blankets. In addition, people are not provided with soap, towels, or cleaning products, rather, they were expected to buy it themselves from a market - selling cigarettes, sim cards and other items - which attends the PRDC on a weekly basis. The food followed a similar level of quality, and was described by most detainees as inadequate, inedible - often using expired ingredients and cold - or in too small quantities.

The UNHCR and IOM reportedly carry out visits to Paranesti PRDC, although the main focus of IOM visits were reported to be referring people for voluntary return procedures. Local CSOs reportedly support individuals in Paranesti PRDC via parcels of non-food items, such as hygiene products, clothing, as well as dry food. According to testimony respondents, Paranesti PRDC does not provide recreational activities or education services, there is no library, and detainees can only use a small outdoor space surrounding the containers.

In late 2023 Paranesti was visited by a delegation of the CPT and its findings were published in a report in July 2024.