Greek authorities have successfully dismantled an international criminal group that was involved in trafficking cocaine in shipping containers from Latin America to Europe. Two Albanians and two Greeks were arrested after a months-long investigation conducted by Greek authorities in collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). More than 462 pounds of cocaine were found in plastic bags inside containers with shrimp at the port of Piraeus.
Aside from the cocaine, the police also confiscated over $141,000 in cash, a shotgun, bullets, mobile phones, and documents relating to drug quantities and expected profits during raids at the suspects’ residences and vehicles. Based on the evidence gathered, authorities believe that the criminal group aimed to make an illegal profit of over 5 million euros. The drugs were being transported from Latin America to European countries and to Turkey, with Greece being used as both a transit point and destination for the shipments.
One of the Albanians who was arrested was accused of playing a key role in the criminal group and had previously been implicated in operating a lab in Greece that produced Captagon pills, a type of amphetamine also referred to as the “poor man’s cocaine.” Over 634,000 pills were confiscated at that time. Another Greek national among the suspects had previously been arrested in Costa Rica on a 2012 warrant issued by the United States for his involvement in smuggling weapons to Europe to the now disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels.
The suspects were expected to appear before a prosecutor for further legal proceedings. The successful dismantling of this criminal group highlights the importance of international cooperation in combating drug trafficking operations. The seizure of such a significant amount of cocaine and the related evidence demonstrate the scale of the operation, as well as the wide-reaching impact of these criminal activities on multiple countries and regions.
This operation also sheds light on the complex networks and connections involved in drug trafficking activities, with individuals from different countries playing various roles in facilitating the movement and distribution of illicit substances. The use of shipping containers as a means of transporting drugs further underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in monitoring and intercepting such criminal activities. The involvement of individuals with past criminal records in other illicit activities, such as weapons smuggling, highlights the interconnected nature of transnational criminal networks and the need for coordinated efforts to disrupt these operations.
Overall, the successful dismantling of this international drug trafficking operation is a significant achievement for Greek authorities and their international partners, as it represents a major blow to the criminal networks involved in such illicit activities. The arrests made and the evidence seized during this operation will hopefully lead to further investigations and prosecutions, contributing to efforts to combat drug trafficking and related criminal activities on a global scale.
